:. ' 



■ ■■ ■■ i H i rm i i ■ _ ■!■ ■ i — ■» > 



■ '■Mill I " 






-j.-rr.rt 



roswwsw 



HitfU ll Qi y-^-rgi 



II 



o ■:::■■ m 



r ^/JHEfi ^ 



.' -, . - ■• . ,r:>.. • 



^s^S^^^w 






■■■■Hx" 1 *** 



■ • 



m»m m »n tn wm i n t [ 






MASON LONG, 



CONVERTED GAMBLER. 



The Life 



Mason Long, 



(Eonbemir ffiamMer. 



Being a Record of His Experience as a White Slave; a Soldier 
in the Union Army; a Professional Gambler; a Patron 
of the Turf; a Variety Theater and Minstrel 
Manager; and, Finally, a Convert to the 
Murphy Cause, and to the Gos- 
pel of Christ. 



WRITTEN B X HIMSELF. 



WITH A PORTRAIT, AND SIX ILLUSTRATIONS. 



CHICAGO: 

Donnelley, Loyd & Co., Printers, 

1878. 



\\ 



I S7S 



Entered according to Act op Congress, in the Year 1878, by 
I. S. FELGER, 

IN THE OFFICE OF THE LIBRARIAN OF CONGRESS AT WASHINGTON. 

I 5 






t 5 

i 



JOHN D. OLDS, Esq., 

OF 

FORT WAYNE, IND., 

THIS LITTLE BOOK IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED, IN TOKEN OF GRATI- 
TUDE FOR THE GREAT KINDNESS 
RECEIVED FROM HIM, AND FOR THE RESPECT ENTERTAINED 
FOR HIS HIGH CHRISTIAN CHARACTER, AND HIS 
UNSELFISH BENEVOLENCE, BY 

THE A UTHOR. 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. 



PAGE 

Preface, 15 

CHAPTER I. 

My boyhood and youth — Seven years of abject slavery 
— Hard lessons of the ways of the world — I become 
a Union soldier, ....... 17 

CHAPTER II. 

My career as a soldier — The routine of camp life — 
Bloody battles, forced marches, and long sieges — 
Record of three eventful years, . • . . 23 

CHAPTER III. 

My first experience in gambling — Prevalence of the vice 
among officers and soldiers — Heavy winnings during 
the war — Playing under difficulties — My first taste 
of liquor — The Fort Wayne confidence gang, . . 37 

CHAPTER IV. 

How I degenerated from a business man into a profes- 
sional gambler — Severe lessons at my new trade — 
My sad experience as manager of a minstrel troupe 
and proprietor of a variety theater at Lafayette — 
Ups and downs as a gambler — A faro game stopped 
by a fearful powder explosion, . . . -57 



10 Table of Contents. 

CHAPTER V. 

PAGE 

The horrors of delirium tremens — Visions of the " White 
Mice" — Repeated captures by the police — Ludi- 
crous flight of a bloodthirsty sport — Large winnings 
invested in a palatial saloon and gambling den — 
Reckless dissipation and prodigality — An hour in 
jail — Low ebb of fortune, ..... 76 

CHAPTER VI. 

" Following the trotters " — Sights and scenes on the turf 
— Make-shifts of a broken gambler — "Canada Bill's " 
confidence operations — Traveling on " cheek " — 
A fourteen weeks debauch — Another horrible experi- 
ence with delirium tremens, 96 

CHAPTER VII. 

The various phases of gambling — Good and bad qualities 
of the genuine sporting man — Prevalence of the 
vice among business men — The misery and ruin it 
causes — A few words to the sporting fraternity, . . 125 

CHAPTER VIII. 

How I became a convert to the Murphy cause — Signing 
the pledge — Struggles with the demon alcohol — 
Final triumph over the rum devil, .... 144 



CHAPTER IX. 

My conversion to the Gospel of Jesus Christ — Mental 
sufferings while under conviction — Public confession 
of my sins — The blessings attending a change of 
heast, 160 



Table of Contents. 11 

CHAPTER X. 



PAGE 



My admission into the First Baptist Church of Fort 
Wayne — Immersion in the presence of a vast audi- 
ence — Press reports of the ceremony, . . .182 

CHAPTER XL 

My career since my conversion — What I am doing in the 

temperance work, ....... 200 

CHAPTER XII. 

Supplementary chapter, written by my pastor, Dr. J. R. 

Stone, at my request, . . . . . .211 

CHAPTER XIII. 

Extract from "The Ribbon Workers," edited by J. M. 
Hiatt, Esq., and published by J. W. Goodspeed, 
Chicago, 225 



PREFACE. 



I have no apology to offer for writing this little 
book. I have not the assurance to claim for it any 
especial literary merit, or any permanent value. 
But my life, though short, has been a rather event- 
ful one, and I have told it truthfully in the hope 
that my readers — and especially the young — will 
take warning from my follies and crimes, and 
realize from my experience that "The way of the 
Transgressor is hard." As I lookback with sorrow 
and remorse upon the worse than wasted years of 
my manhood, I pray that others may be spared my 
suffering. If in my youth there had been placed 
before me the sad tale of some unfortunate human 
being, whose life had been wrecked by dissipation 
and debauchery, I believe my career would have 
been very different. I earnestly hope that this 
unpretending little volume may be the means of 
saving some young man from my bitter experience, 
and causing him to realize the beauty and happi- 
ness of an upright, sober, and virtuous life. 

I ask the reader's indulgence as to the literary 
defects of my book, of which no one can be more 

conscious than myself. 

Mason Long. 



MASON LONG, 



CONVERTED GAMBLER. 



MASON LONG. 



CHAPTER I. 

MY BOYHOOD AND YOUTH — SEVEN YEARS OF ABJECT 
SLAVERY- HARD LESSONS OF THE WAYS OF THE WORLD 
-I BECOME A UNION SOLDIER. 

The story of my life is not a pleasant one. 
It will not excite the admiration or enthusiasm 
of the reader. It is not characterized — would 
to God it were — by great deeds, noble actions, 
high impulses. My career has been in no way 
different from that of thousands of others, 
excepting that, through the grace of God, it 
was altered before I had drank the bitter cup 
to the very dregs. My story is that of a bleak 
and cheerless childhood, a youth of ignorance 
and hardship, a manhood of intemperance and 
vice. 

I was born in Luray, Licking County, Ohio, 
on the 10th of September, 1842. My father, 
Jacob Long, died at the age of fifty-six, when 
I was but six years old. After his death I 
went with my mother, Margaret Long, a noble 
Christian woman, to West Salem, Ashland 
County, Ohio, where my grandfather lived. 



18 Mason Long : 

I remained there until my mother died, leaving 
me all alone in the world. Although but ten 
years of age, the scene at her death-bed made 
an impression upon my memory which time 
can never efface. After years of sinful indul- 
gence, during which her dying words, though 
often called to mind, had failed to awaken my 
seared and deadened conscience, they came 
back to me with a new and vivid meaning, and 
I at last thanked God that the prayer which 
my dear mother uttered with her parting breath 
had been answered. 

Left at this tender age an orphan, homeless, 
friendless, and penniless, my boyhood was, 
indeed, a bleak and cheerless one. I was bound 
out to a wealthy German farmer, of Medina 
County, Ohio, whose abject slave I was for 
seven years. They were years of hard labor, 
and cruel treatment ; years which brought to 
me only sadness and suffering ; years of gloom 
and servitude, unrelieved by one kind word, or 
one tender glance. But although deprived of 
home, friends, family, of all those surroundings 
which make childhood the pleasantest portion 
of many lives, I never ceased to look forward 
to a better day ahead. Well has the poet said : 

Hope springs eternal in the human breast, 
Man never is, but always to be blest. 

It made no difference how severe my task, 



Converted Grambler. 19 

how cruel my treatment, how dreary my life, I 
never ceased to hope for a happier future. 

The terms of my apprenticeship were that I 
was to labor for my employer until I reached 
the age of eighteen, receiving my board and 
clothes, with two months of schooling each 
year; I was also to have a horse and saddle. 

Mr. K., my employer — I may say owner — 
put me at work immediately in clearing land, 
and for five years I was never away from the 
clearings for a single day. That whole section 
was a forest when I entered it, and the labor 
of felling the trees and clearing the land was 
very severe. A part of the time I worked 
in a large sugar camp, where we made eigh- 
teen hundred pounds of sugar, and six hun- 
dred gallons of maple syrup, every spring* 
I remained in this slavery — for it was no- 
thing else — for seven years, during which 
time we cleared one hundred acres of land, 
and my master erected a large residence and 
fine barn, besides paying for his real estate. 
His treatment of me was very inhuman. No 
slave-holder of the South ever treated his black 
chattels as barbarously as this brute in human 
form treated me, and to his harshness and 
inhumanity I ascribe much of my subsequent 
sinful career. I was deprived of all the usual 
happy accompaniments of childhood. In seven 
years I only went to school three months. I was 



20 Mason Long: 

scarcely allowed sufficient clothing to hide my 
nakedness, and was not permitted to associate 
with other children ; when my relatives came 
to see me, I was denied the privilege of speak- 
ing to them. Once I stole out and talked to 
them a few moments, and for this I was brutally 
beaten with a large black-snake whip, carrying 
the marks of the punishment upon my back 
for several months. When I reached the age 
of seventeen, I determined to be a slave no 
longer, and although I had one year more to 
serve, my guardian secured my freedom. I left 
my brutal taskmaster in a pitiable condition. 
My entire wardrobe consisted of a piece of a 
straw hat, a pair of blue overalls, and two 
" hickory" shirts. I had no coat and no shoes; 
I was in total ignorance of the world, could 
scarcely read, had never been inside of a church 
but three or four times, and did not know what 
a Sabbath school was. As I left the scene of my 
youthful hardships, wondering what the future 
had in store for me, I looked back over the 
preceding seven years to the day of my moth- 
er's death. She died at the house of my 
unfeeling master, and when her body was taken 
to the grave, I, a boy of ten, was compelled to 
stand some distance away and hold the horses, 
being denied the poor privilege of seeing the 
coffin lowered into the ground. Well do I 
remember with what utter sorrow and despair 



Converted Gambler. 21 

I left the cemetery, and what sad anticipations 
filled my little heart, anticipations which proved 
only too well founded. 

I can not think kindly of the man who thus 
reared me in ignorance and prepared me for a 
life of wickedness and shame. His avarice and 
cruelty have made him rich in this world's 
goods. I would not injure him if I could, but 
leave him with the Divine Ruler, who shall at 
last judge us all. After gaining my freedom, I 
worked for a neighboring farmer for a short 
time, and obtained some clothes and a little 
money. At Wellington, Ohio, I purchased a 
ticket for Rock Island, 111., and then for the 
first time I saw a railroad. I obtained work on 
a farm near Geneseo, 111., at sixteen dollars a 
month. The next winter I worked for my 
board and went to school, and then for the first 
time did I realize my pitiable ignorance. 

In a short time I had another severe experi- 
ence of the ways of the world. I obtained 
work for which I was to receive seventeen 
dollars a month, and being anxious to save 
money I only drew five dollars during ten 
months, at the expiration of which time my 
employer sold out and decamped, leaving me 
unpaid. I followed him to Chicago, but 
he refused to pay me, and only laughed at 
my entreaties. I returned to Geneseo a dis- 
heartened boy. I then went to school for a 



22 Mason Long: 

short time, and again obtained work on a farm. 
While engaged in this occupation, I was unfor- 
tunate enough to be arrested on a charge of 
stealing a set of harness. Of this offense I 
am glad to say that I was entirely innocent ; 
indeed, the man who caused my arrest admitted, 
when I was brought up for examination, that 
he knew nothing about the case, and I was dis- 
charged without a hearing. This was the first, 
but alas! not the last time, that I was arrested, 
and the event made an ineffaceable impression 
upon my mind. 

After this I went to work for myself. I first 
purchased a yoke of oxen and worked them for 
a while, then traded them for a horse, and 
engaged in buying and selling cattle. I was 
doing well at this, but in the Spring of 1862, 
when good Uncle Abraham was calling for more 
troops to defend the Union against the assault 
of its foes, I felt it was my duty to respond, and 
I enrolled my name in the 112th Illinois Vol- 
unteers. 

The reader may think I have gone too much 
into detail in relating the history of my child- 
hood and youth; but I desired to show the 
influences with which I was surrounded, and 
the atmosphere in which I grew to manhood, 
and which explain to a great extent the folly 
and wickedness of my after life. 



Converted Gambler. 23 



CHAPTER II. 

MY CAREER AS A SOLDIER — THE ROUTINE OF CAMP LIFE 
-BLOODY BATTLES, FORCED MARCHES, AND LONG 
SIEGES — RECORD OF THREE EVENTFUL YEARS. 

In the Spring of 1862, I, in company with a 
number of my companions, enrolled my name 
in the 112th Regiment, Illinois Volunteer 
Infantry, as a private, and served in that 
capacity until the war closed. Our regiment 
went into camp at Peoria, and remained there 
about four weeks, when we were transferred to 
Covington, Ky. We were in camp near that 
place for some time, when we were removed to 
Lexington, Ky. There we remained in camp 
till the Spring of 1863. General Granger com- 
manded our division. Until that time our life 
had been very monotonous, nothing but drill- 
ing and camp duty having been required of us. 
We were very restive, and longed for active 
service, of which we soon got enough to satisfy 
the most sanguinary among us. 

Our first fighting was with John Morgan, the 
notorious guerilla, whom we pursued all over 
central Kentucky, and with whom we had a 
number of skirmishes. In the Fall of 1863, 
we crossed the Cumberland Mountains into 



24 Mason Long : 

East Tennessee, our army being then under 
command of General A. E. Burnside, a most 
brave and accomplished officer, at present a 
United States Senator from the State of Rhode 
Island, of which he was recently the governor. 
Our march over the mountains was a severe 
one, abounding in hardships and privations 
which were very rigorous, after the prolonged 
indolence of camp life. A great many of our 
horses and mules died on the road, and the 
stench from their carcasses was almost unen- 
durable. We were on short rations, and 
suffered greatly from lack of water. Imme- 
diately after reaching Tennessee, fighting 
commenced in good earnest. From that time 
until we were mustered out of service, we had 
scarcely any rest. Our first general engage- 
ment in Tennessee was that of Philadelphia 
(then Campbell Station), and was a bloody and 
closely contested one. We were defeated with 
considerable loss, and were driven by the enemy 
to Knoxville. They at once laid siege to the 
city, and maintained it for eighteen days. On 
the 18th of November, our brigade was sta- 
tioned two miles from the city, for the purpose 
of holding the enemy in check until the citi- 
zens and negroes could throw up entrenchments 
for the protection of the town. This was a 
terrible day, and one which I can never forget. 
The battle began at daybreak, and the bloody 



Converted Gambler. 25 

work continued until nightfall. We were sta- 
tioned on the brow of a hill, and had no 
breastworks, our only protection being a rail 
fence, of which we made good use. We piled 
the rails closely together, and they were of 
much service to us. The force of the minnie 
balls which struck the rails was almost spent 
when they reached us. But nevertheless, the 
mortality among our soldiers was very great ; 
many of our brave boys were killed and 
wounded that day, gladly giving up their life's 
blood for their country, and nerving their com- 
panions, by their heroism, to renewed exertions. 
Blessed be the memory of the thousands whose 
bones are bleaching on Southern battle-fields, 
and whose deeds of bravery and valor call forth 
the enthusiasm of the historian, and the glowing 
eloquence of the poet. 

The firing between the two armies was main- 
tained during the entire day. We frequently 
ran out of ammunition, when it became neces- 
sary to go to the rear, half a mile distant, after 
a new supply. This was a trying ordeal, and 
taxed the nerve of our boys to the utmost. It 
required not a little bravery to start back with 
the ammunition, and face a scorching fire for 
half a mile. Many were killed and wounded 
in making the attempt, and it seemed almost 
miraculous that any passed unharmed through 



26 Mason Long: 

the shower of bullets that fell so thickly around 
them. 

About four o'clock in the afternoon, the 
enemy brought the contest to a crisis by making 
a grand charge upon us. The colonel of the 
Sixth Georgia regiment rode up to the rail 
fence, I have mentioned, and called upon us to 
surrender. Our colonel gave the command to 
fire, and the poor fellow never asked any one 
to surrender again. About one-half of our 
company shot at him, and his body was literally 
riddled with bullets. The engagement then 
waxed hotter, and when the cannon balls struck 
the fence, the rails flew like so many feathers. 

About this time, the brave Gen. Saunders, 
who commanded our division, was killed. One 
of our boys, who was wounded, was hobbling to 
to the rear, when Gen. Saunders took his gun 
from him, and, as he was about firing, a ball 
struck him, and he never spoke again. 

At this stage of the battle, a most desperate 
conflict was in progress. The rebels had climbed 
over the fence, and were fighting hand to hand 
with our troops. The " Johnnies " were so 
intermingled with our men, that it was almost 
impossible to tell them apart. Our boys were 
greatly demoralized by Saunders' loss, and we 
did not stand our ground much longer. We 
hurriedly retreated, falling back two miles, 
through open fields, under a raking cross-fire 



Converted G-ambler. 27 

from the rebel artillery. Our losses were fright- 
ful. Many of our comrades yielded their lives 
upon this retreat, and many more were deprived 
of arms and legs, and made physical wrecks 
for life. It was with great difficulty that we 
secured the bodies of our officers who had been 
killed, but as true soldiers we would not leave 
them on the field. The captain of Co. A, of 
our regiment, had been shot all to pieces by a 
shell. We saved his body, and that of Gen. 
Saunders, and carried them two miles undfer a 
sweeping fire, when we made a halt. At the 
dead hour of night, the American flag was wrap- 
ped around them, and both were buried in one 
grave. The interment was made amidst pro- 
found silence, not even the roll of a muffled 
drum being allowed, lest it should apprise the 
enemy of our loss. These men died true 
heroes, and their memories will always be 
revered by those who shared their perils. The 
fort at Knoxville was named for Gen. Saunders, 
in honor'of his bravery. Our dead and wounded 
fell into the hands of the enemy. We retired 
into Knoxville, and the Confederates laid siege 
to us ; we were penned up in the city for 
eighteen days, and were exposed to many perils 
and hardships ; our situation was very critical, 
and we did not know at what hour we might 
have to surrender. Our losses were quite heavy, 
many of our sentinels being shot by the rebel 



28 Mason Long: 

sharpshooters, who were very skillful, killing 
men with neatness and dispatch at a distance of 
three-quarters of a mile. One day we ventured 
to make a charge upon a beautiful residence 
about a mile from our entrenchments, burning 
the building, and driving the enemy back. 
This was done for the purpose of saving the 
lives of our outer guard. During the siege, 
our horses suffered greatly ; we had no grain, 
and, in order to afford them sustenance, we 
felled large trees, and they browsed off the 
branches. They literally stripped the trees, 
even eating the bark. During the last week 
of the siege, we took the poorest horses across 
the river, and shot them, fifty at a time ; in one 
field were the dead bodies of more than fifteen 
hundred horses and mules. 

Never had a morning looked so lovely to us 
as that of the day upon which this memorable 
siege was raised. As day dawned we saw the 
Union troops approaching in the distance, and 
knew that we were saved at last. As the rein- 
forcements approached, our brave boys gave 
way to their feelings, and rent the air with 
loud shouts and hearty huzzas. The enemy 
hastily " pulled up stakes," and started in the 
direction of Bean Station, where they made a 
halt ; at that point a hard fight took place, and 
we lost part of our wagon train. The Con- 
federates continued their retreat from Bean 



nverted Gambler, 29 

Station to Muddy Creek, where there was bloody 
fighting in the woods. At the latter place our 
Col. Brownlow, a son of " Parson " Brownlow, 
was captured. The rebels did not know who 
he was. He purchased his freedom for twenty 
dollars, and was soon with us again. We pur- 
sued the enemy to Dandridge, and then to 
Kelley's Ford, where there was sharp lighting 
for a time. Shortly after this, oui troops 
were transferred to Middle Tennessee, and 
thence to Georgia. In the latter State, we saw 
some hard service, the severest contest being 
in front of Atlanta, on the 6th of August, where 
many of the brave members of the 11-th sur- 
rendered their lives. Atlanta fell, and the Union 
army continued its victorious march southward, 
fighting every day. It was in one of the 
engagements about Atlanta, that the noble 
Gen. McPherson was killed. 

There was hot work before u*s. Sherman 
soon started on his memorable march to the 
sea, and our regiment became a part of the 
army commanded by that brave officer. General 
Geo. H. Thomas. We left at once for Tennes- 
see, and soon came in contact with the Con- 
federate army commanded by General Hood. 
Here we entered upon the hardest campaign 
of marching and fighting that we experienced 
during our service. Hood's army pressed us 
closely, and we were on the retreat for many 



30 Mason Long : 

days, fighting at every step. When we reached 
Franklin, Tennessee, only five hours in advance 
of our pursuers, we made a stand and hastily 
prepared for battle ; we improved our time 
by throwing up breastworks. As we worked 
we could see the enemy approaching for a 
long distance, and we knew there was going 
to be a severe conflict. And so it proved. 
We were stationed in the center on the Pike 
Road. The rebels dashed upon us in nine 
lines of battle, and we received them with a 
raking cross fire from our artillery ; we poured 
volley after volley into their ranks, but it did 
not even check their advance. These brave 
soldiers kept steadily advancing, pressing for- 
ward to our works, although at every step 
many fell wounded and dying under our sweep- 
ing fire. Like the Light Brigade they literally 
pushed 

" Into the jaws of death, 
Into the mouth of hell." 

Here the Confederate General Pat. Claiborne 
performed a deed of bravery and gallantry 
which is unsurpassed in the annals of the war, 
and paid his life as a forfeit. In order to gain 
a foothold for his men, General Claiborne 
planted spurs in his gray charger, and dashed 
to the top of our earthworks. He gained the 
pinnacle before a shot touched him, but just 
as he reached the highest point, horse and 



Converted Gambler. 31 

rider went down together in the presence of 
both armies. It seemed as though a thousand 
shots were fired at him. The sight was a 
memorable one, and, enemy though he was, we 
could not but honor him for his wonderful 
daring. The deed was a fitting one for the 
poet and painter to immortalize. 

Through General Claiborne's heroism the 
enemy succeeded in breaking our lines. An 
Ohio regiment gave way, and three thousand 
Confederates poured in upon us. This was the 
crisis of the battle, and for a time it seemed as if 
the annihilation of General Thomas' entire army 
was inevitable ; but the gallant Twenty -fourth 
Kentucky made a bold charge, closing up the 
gap and saving the Union army. The heavy 
firing then ceased, and there was a lull in the 
roar of battle. The two armies were so close 
to each other, that the " Yankees" and the 
" Johnnies " could easily converse together, only 
our earthworks separating the foes. The air 
was laden with the groans of the wounded and 
the shrieks of the dying, and the blue and the 
gray mingled their prayers together as they 
passed into the hereafter. Many of the poor fel- 
lows cried piteously for water, but fate denied 
them even that little boon, and with parched 
lips and burning tongues they lingered until 
death ended their sufferings. We remained in 
this position for three hours, for the purpose 



32 Mason Long : 

of holding the enemy in check while our wagon 
train was crossing the river ; we then began 
our retreat, leaving our wounded in the enemy's 
hands. The poor fellows pleaded and begged 
to be taken with us, but it was impossible, as 
we could with difficulty save ourselves. Many 
of the boys wept as they started off, leaving 
their wounded comrades on the field of battle. 
Thus ended one of the most sanguinary battles 
of the war, considering the number of men 
engaged and the time occupied. We quietly 
crossed the river and retreated towards Nash- 
ville. The march was a hard one — much of it 
being made in double-quick time. We reached 
Nashville but a little in advance of the enemy. 

On the first day after our arrival we were 
stationed at Fort Negley, but were then ordered 
off to the right, where we saw more bloody 
work. During the second day's fight we 
charged the enemy and were repulsed with 
heavy loss, leaving our wounded again on the 
field. The night was a very severe one, and 
many of our wounded boys perished from the 
cold. 

Among those killed that day was my brother. 
On this day we succeeded in recapturing our 
dead and wounded. They presented a horrible 
spectacle, and one never to be forgotten ; among 
them were several hundred colored troops. At 
last we had obtained a decided advantage over 



Converted Gambler. 33 

Gen. Hood's troops, and forced them to retreat. 
We pressed them so hard that they drowned 
artillery in every stream they passed, until they 
were almost disarmed. We pursued Hood to 
the river at Clifton, Tennessee, and captured a 
large portion of his command. 

The scenes were then shifted and we were 
transferred to another sphere of action. From 
Clifton we were taken by the fleet to Cincinnati, 
and thence by rail to Washington. We were 
then hurried to Alexandria, and after a brief 
delay embarked on board the steamer Atlantic 
for Fort Fisher. The Atlantic was an old hulk 
which had been used many years for mail service 
between New York and Liverpool, and had been 
pronounced unseaworthy. The underwriters 
had refused to insure her, but the government 
thought she was good enough for soldiers. 
Supposing she was lost, with all on board, it 
would only be a few soldiers, that was, all; 
none of the government officials at Washington 
could risk any thing. 

The trip was a memorable one. The Atlantic 
carried three thousand five hundred infantry 
and the Ohio Battery of artillery, with Major 
General J. D. Cox, now member of Congress 
from the Toledo district, in command. We 
stopped at Fortress Monroe, and took one 
million rounds of ammunition. We made no 
other stops until we reached our destination. 

2* 



34 Mason Long : 

We "land lubbers" found this voyage any 
thing but a pleasant one. In going around 
Cape Hatteras we experienced those peculiar 
sensations which only those can appreciate who 
have " been there ; " our regiment was in the 
"hold," about ten feet below water, and we 
did not succumb as soon as those on the 
hurricane deck. The boys of the 140th Indi- 
ana were up there, and they began to "feed 
the sea gulls " three hours ahead of us. 
When I was attacked I thought my time 
had come, for the sensations I experienced 
were deathly. When the Atlantic climbed the 
waves of Hatteras every joint in her cracked, 
and we constantly expected her to go to pieces. 
We remained in sight of Fort Fisher — 
sometimes called Federal Point — three days 
before we landed We went to shore in 
little tug boats, and had at first but two miles 
of a foothold. We marched up the Cape 
Fear River, took Fort Anderson, and then 
proceeded to Wilmington, N. C. ; our path lay 
through the dense pineries, first to Goldsboro 
and then to Raleigh ; at this place we first heard 
of the assassination of President Lincoln. The 
news created the utmost indignation and excite- 
ment among our troops, and they determined 
to burn the beautiful city for revenge. Our 
commander gave strict orders against any such 
proceedings, and detached three thousand trusty 



Converted Grarnbler. 35 

veterans as a protection against incendiarism. 
From Raleigh we went to Greensboro, and there 
we heard the glad news that Lee had surren- 
dered ; Johnson had already succumbed, and 
now we knew that the civil war was over, 
and that the cause for which we had fought 
and struggled so long was victorious. We 
unfurled the American flag from the tops of 
the highest trees, and exhibited our joy and 
happiness in many ways. We remained in 
camp at Greensboro some time, and were then 
mustered out of the service. We proceeded 
home via Baltimore, and reaching Chicago on 
the Fourth of July, where we were paid off, 
we indulged in a general jollification, and many 
of us gave way to riotous excesses. We had 
ended our career as soldiers, and were civilians 
once again. 

Brigadier General T. J. Henderson, of Prince- 
ton, 111., was our commander during the entire 
war. He now represents the Sixth Illinois 
District in Congress. He was a brave officer, 
and enjoyed the respect and affection of his 
men in a remarkable degree. While we were 
serving under him in Kentucky he was nomi- 
nated to fill the unexpired term of Lovejoy in 
Congress. He was a strict disciplinarian, and 
as we were unused to the rigor of military life, 
we deemed him arbitrary and tyrannical, and 
many of us wrote letters to his district urging 



36 Mason Long: 

his defeat on those grounds. These letters I 
have no doubt worked his defeat upon that 
occasion, and are deeply regretted by many of 
the writers, who afterward learned to love the 
general for his bravery and kindheartedness. 
When the regiment was mustered out of service 
there was not a boy in it who would not have 
fought for General Henderson. He did his 
duty bravely from the beginning to the end of 
the war, and well merited his promotion from 
private to brigadier general. 

Our old regiment has held annual reunions 
since the war, four of which I have attended. 
It is very pleasant for the men who shared so 
many perils together to assemble and recount 
the experience of their three eventful years of 
army life. We have resolved to hold a reunion 
every year so long as two of us survive. 
General Henderson — God bless him — is with 
us heart and soul. 



Converted Gambler. 3? 



CHAPTER III. 

MY FIRST EXPERIENCE IN GAMBLING — PREVALENCE OF 
THE VICE AMONG OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS — HEAVY 
WINNINGS DURING THE WAR -PLAYING UNDER DIF- 
FICULTIES—MY FIRST TASTE OF LIQUOR — THE FORT 
WAYNE CONFIDENCE GANG. 

When I enlisted in the United States Army, 
in 1862, I had never tasted liquor, nor touched 
a card. During the service I formed many bad 
habits, among them that of gambling. I first 
began playing with members of my mess, when 
we were stationed at Lexington, Ky., and 
proved an apt scholar. I was soon able to win 
money from men who had gambled for years, 
and who, one would think, would know all 
about it. I formed the acquaintance of Johnny 
White, an expert sport belonging to the 100th 
Ohio regiment, and he taught me, for twenty- 
five dollars, a trick of working cards, by means 
of which I won large sums of money. In 
this way I realized four hundred dollars after 
the first pay-day subsequent to learning the 
trick. I had never had so much money before, 
at one time, and I did not know how to use it. 
I spent it very freely, soon finding myself 
out of funds. I then contracted habits of reck- 



38 Mason Long: 

lessness and extravagance which adhered to me 
during my entire life as a " man of the world." 
I rapidly became a spendthrift and squandered 
money freely with the sutlers and any one who 
had any thing to sell. I indulged largely in 
luxuries, regardless of expense. 

I rapidly mastered the mysteries of poker, 
casino, ehuck-a-luck, and other games, and 
soon acquired a considerable notoriety as a gam- 
bler. Playing became a perfect mania among 
the soldiers, and many gambled — including 
church members and professing Christians — 
who had never thought of doing so before.' 
Gaming afforded relief to the monotony of 
camp-life and produced excitement which with- 
drew the attention of the boys from the perils 
they were undergoing. Notwithstanding my 
speedily acquired notoriety as a gambler, I stood 
well with my officers, and for a long time they 
overlooked my propensities in this direction. I 
continued playing the trick I had learned, very 
successfully, and wandered off into different 
regiments for the purpose of reaping a harvest, 
through its operation. Upon one occasion I 
was absent upon an expedition of this kind for 
ten successive roll-calls, and was reported as a 
deserter. During my absence I had been play- 
ing some heavy games of poker. I finally re- 
turned to my regiment with thirteen hundred 
and fifty dollars winnings in my pocket. I was at 



Converted Gambler. 39 

once arraigned as a deserter before a regimental 
court martial, over which Lieutenant-Colonel 
Bond presided. He had always seemed partial 
to me, and I had little fear of the result when 
the trial opened. I had a physician's certificate 
of unfitness for duty in my pocket, but I felt so 
confident of the result that I did not show it, fear- 
ing that if I did, I would compromise the sur- 
geon who gave it. I was soon adjudged guilty. 
Colonel Bond, upon whom fell the duty of ad- 
ministering the sentence, said, with a look and 
tone of sternness, that my transgressions had 
been repeated and flagrant, and that he pro- 
posed to make an example of me. I trembled 
at these words, fearing that I was doomed to 
six months' hard labor upon the fortifications, 
with a ball and chain, which was the extreme 
penalty. The colonel proceeded, however, to 
sentence me to forfeit a month's pay, amount- 
ing to thirteen dollars, and to three days' ex- 
tra work in digging sinks. I was overjoyed at 
the lightness of the penalty. The thirteen 
dollars, of course, I did not miss out of my 
large roll,.and the three days 1 labor I cheerfully 
performed. I feared that this proceeding would 
render it impossible for me to get an honorable 
discharge, at the close of the war, but such 
was not the case. 

So strong was the fascination which the vice 
of gambling cast over the men, that they risked 



40 Mason Long: 

their lives to indulge their passion for it. 
Many games of chuck-a-luck and poker were 
played on the skirmish line while the bul- 
lets were flying thick and fast about us, and 
occasionally taking some poor fellow to his 
long home. 

At night, the men congregated in the woods, 
whenever possible, and played by the flicker- 
ing light of torches. I remember one night, 
while we were in Georgia, that about one hun- 
dred and fifty men were in a thickly-timbered 
piece of woods, near Snake Creek Gap, engaged 
in this pursuit, when a detachment raided them, 
under orders from the brigade headquarters. 
I had been sitting on a log, conducting a game 
of chuck-a-luck, with a torch bearer by my 
side, whom I paid ten dollars per night for his 
services. I was sitting on my winnings, which 
amounted to four hundred and fifty dollars, 
when we were surrounded : the torch holder at 
once blew out the light, and, as I rolled off the 
log to secrete myself, he seized the money. I 
escaped arrest, but a large number of men were 
marched up to headquarters. 

"What is the charge against these men?" 
asked the officer. 

" Gambling," was the reply. 

" Is Mace Long among them ? " was the next 
question. 

" No, sir, we did n't see him." 



Converted Gambler. 41 

" Well, then, let the others go. It is not 
right to punish any body, when the chief 
offender goes free." 

This illustrates the estimation in which I had 
come to be held. Many of the officers them- 
selves liked to gamble as well as the private 
soldiers did. I played many times with officers, 
and found numerous expert gamesters among 
them. Immediately after the battle of Frank- 
lin, we retreated to Nashville. In company 
with White, whom I have before referred to, I 
rode into Nashville on a freight train. Being 
without passports, we were taken by the guards 
to the Zollicoffer House, which had been con- 
verted, temporarily, into a prison, and which 
was filled with both Federals and Confederates. 
The building was crowded, and many of the 
inmates were filthy and swarming with vermin. 
The place was a decidedly uncomfortable one, 
and we longed to regain our freedom as soon 
as possible. White was looking through a 
window upon the street, when he happened to 
see an Ohio colonel, with whom he was well 
acquainted. To him we related the circum- 
stances, and through his exertions we were 
released from our terrible confinement. In his 
company, we proceeded to a hotel, and, after 
supper, were introduced to a railroad conductor, 
when a game of poker was agreed upon. I had 
left a deck of marked cards at the office of the 



42 Mason Long: 

hotel, and by previous arrangement, when cards 
were called for, these were brought to the 
room. White and I played against the colonel 
and the conductor, and when we rose from the 
table at two o'clock in the morning, we had 
relieved them of one thousand dollars. The 
reader will probably regard this as a poor 
return for the officer's kindness to us, and so it 
was. The next morning I joined my regiment 
at Fort JSTegiey. Despite my recklessness, I 
never shirked duty to indulge in gambling, 
and I at least have the satisfaction of knowing 
that I was always on hand, whenever there 
was any fighting to be done. I never missed a 
skirmish or general engagement in which my 
regiment participated, during the entire war, 
excepting when I was in the hospital, where I 
spent two months. 

I usually won when I played with the 
officers, but not always so. Once I received a 
written invitation to visit the general's head- 
quarters. I went there, not knowing what I was 
wanted for, and upon arriving found two aides- 
de-camp engaged in a game of poker, which 
they requested me to join. Of course, I 
complied ; I lost six or seven hundred dollars ; 
I dropped one hundred dollars on my last 
hand, and, finally getting out of funds, stopped 
as I commenced — by request. My invitation 
to participate in the game was due to the 



Converted Grambler. 



43 



knowledge that I had a little money, but after 
that experience, I viewed games where such 
formalities were used with great suspicion. 

Most of my large winnings were made on 
chuck-a-luck. This may be briefly described as 
a game, where the more you lay down, the less 
you pick up. The percentage in favor of the 
game against the outsider, is at least fifty per 
cent., and the latter is sure to lose if he plays 
any length of time. The game is a simple one. 
Upon a piece of oil-cloth are marked various 
squares, numbered from one to six, inclusive, 
thus : 



1 


2 3 4 


5 


6 



The player places his money upon one of these 
figures and the dealer throws three dice. If 
the dice turn up the number bet on, the game 
loses the amount wagered. If the number is 
up twice, the player receives double the sum he 
has risked, etc. It will readily be seen that the 
manager of the game has an absolute certainty 
to win, unless he falls into the hands of old 
sports who are too smart for him. I will give 
an illustration : Once a new recruit came 
among us and attempted to conduct a game. 
He had entered as a substitute, and the money 
thus obtained, together with the proceeds of 



44 Mason Long : 

his game, amounted to fourteen hundred dol- 
lars. I played against him, and in thirty min- 
utes had won all he had, and he owed me 
seventy five dollars. This is not contradictory 
of my assertion as to the relative chances of 
dealer and player, as the reader will soon per- 
ceive. I won by working in a " ringer " upon 
him. By a " ringer " I mean a dice which I 
carried, and which I had altered so that it 
had five five-spots and one six spot. I had cut 
in holes with my knife, blackened them with a 
pencil, and while making change had abstract- 
ed one of his dice and substituted my " ringer" 
for it. Of course I had a sure thing to win, as 
I bet my money on the five-spot. In order to 
get my " ringer " back I took the dealer's 
"kit" — worth perhaps five dollars, for the sev- 
enty-five dollars which he owed me. 

Chuck-a-luck was the popular game after 
pay-day. Then I would spread my cloths and 
reap a rich harvest. Frequently the men had 
no facilities for sending their money home, and 
this led them to risk it in play. I once won 
seven hundred dollars on this game while wait- 
ing for dinner to be cooked at a farm house, 
and this was by no means a remarkable case. 
Although I knew I was sure to lose, the gam- 
bling spell was so strong upon me, that I some- 
times played against this game, and once lost 



Converted Grambler. 45 

fifteen hundred dollars in this manner in less 
than half an hour. 

When the first few days after pay-day had 
passed, and the amateur sports found them- 
selves broke, our playing was confined to the 
" bankers " and the officers, and upon these 
games very large sums changed hands. 

The reader must not imagine from what has 
been related, that every soldier was addicted 
to the vice of gambling. Although a great 
many yielded to its influence, there were nu- 
merous good men who resisted it. We had in 
our company a noble, religious man named 
Lauferty, from Cambridge, 111., who frequently 
cautioned me against this sin, and predicted 
the consequences if I continued to indulge in 
it. I paid no heed to his words, and thought 
him over scrupulous ; nevertheless I had great 
confidence in him. In North Carolina, in the 
Spring of 1865, the men had just received six 
months' pay. This fact, together with the gen- 
eral anticipation of a big battle and the impos- 
sibility of remitting money to the North, gave 
an unprecedented stimulus to gambling. It is 
a singular fact that the men always played more 
recklessly upon the eve of a great battle than 
at any other time. I won heavily about this 
time, and had forty-three hundred dollars in 
cash. I offered Mr. Lauferty eighteen hundred 
dollars of it to keep for me, so that if I should 



46 Mason Long : 

be captured by the enemy I would not lose all 
I had. Imagine my surprise when he refused 
to touch it, because it was made by gambling. 
I thought him very silly then, but I hold a -dif- 
ferent opinion now. 

During the war my net winnings amounted 
to eleven thousand dollars, part of which I 
spent, and the remainder I sent to my relatives 
at Geneseo, 111. 

After leaving the army in 1865, I proceeded 
to Geneseo, and thence to Fort Wayne where, 
in August, I opened a grocery and provision 
store, in which I invested two thousand 
eight hundred dollars of my gambling 
spoils. I started out with fair prospects 
and a determination to succeed. I introduced 
a novelty in the way of free delivery of goods, 
and for a time did an excellent business ; but I 
came in competition with the great " Fruit 
House," the proprietor of which, being a heavy 
capitalist, could sell cheaper than I could buy. 
This hard rivalry discouraged me, and about the 
same time I was in failing health, being troubled 
with an affection of the heart. I applied to a 
physician for treatment and he prescribed whis- 
ky as a tonic. Previous to this, in all my ex- 
perience, I had never tasted a drop of liquor in 
any form. I went to a drug store, purchased 
the whisky, and began taking it out of a spoon, 
as medicine only. It had a stimulating effect 



Converted Grambler. 47 

upon me, and made me feel better. I was 
greatly strengthened and my appetite was re- 
stored. In less than three months I was drink- 
ing it freely out of a jug. I soon formed an 
appetite for it ; an appetite which adhered to me 
for many years, but which I finally, through the 
grace of God, was enabled to shake off. 

It was at the " Lodge " saloon, in Fort Wayne, 
that I took my first glass of liquor over a bar. 
Well do I remember a cold winter day in 1866, 
when John Sterling, one of the proprietors, to 
whom I shall frequently refer, called me in and 
rallied me upon my delicate health. He said I 
ought to use liquor, and I swallowed his prescrip- 
tion without hesitation. From that time until 
a year ago I was addicted to the constant 
use of spirits. I believe that whisky benefited 
me when I first took it, but that it ever after- 
ward proved a curse to me, and that, had I not 
abandoned its use in the nick of time, it would 
would have hurried me into a drunkard's grave. 

Since leaving the army I had never touched a 
card or gambled in any form. One Sabbath 
I was standing in front of my store when I was 
accosted by one of my best customers — a prom- 
inent citizen and a man of high standing — who 
asked me to accompany him to the private room 
of a business man on Columbia street, to wit- 
ness a "gentleman's game of poker." I con- 
sented and soon found myself and my compan- 



48 Mason Long : 

ion engaged in the game. I lost all the money 
I had — sixty-seven dollars — and my associate 
was relieved of nearly one hundred dollars. 
We left and met again on the succeeding 
Tuesday evening, when I had expected 
to be initiated into a Masonic lodge. I 
dreaded the ordeal which I supposed awaited 
me and therefore concluded not to go to the 
lodge room. Instead, I went back to the " busi- 
ness man's" poker game on Columbia street, 
with the friend above referred to, and that night 
lost three hundred dollars more. From this mo- 
ment the old love of play was aroused in my 
bosom, and soon acquired a complete mastery 
over me. I visited the " gentleman's game" 
at every opportunity, and in less than eighteen 
months had lost thirty-five hundred dollars 
in playing against it. By reason of my drink- 
ing and gambling, together with the severe 
competition I have referred to, my business was 
constantly falling off, and my finances had be- 
come very low. I sent to Geneseo for the 
money which I had there, stating that I needed 
it to enlarge my business. Of course it went 
the same old way, into the pockets of the gam- 
blers. I finally discovered that the crowd of 
supposed " business men" who had been de- 
feating me so badly at poker, were in fact ex- 
pert, professional gamblers, one of them being 



Converted Gambler. 4U 

the veteran sport, Capt. Phillips of Toledo, 
who afterwards died at Lima, Ohio. 

Fort Wayne at that time was a paradise for 
gamblers and confidence men. The times were 
flush ; money was plenty, and the spirit of 
speculation was rife. Fort Wayne, being an 
important railroad point, was a natural rendez- 
vous for gamblers from all directions. They 
congregated here from New York, Chicago, De- 
troit, Cincinnati, St. Louis, Indianapolis, Cleve- 
land, Canada, etc., and some of the largest games 
in the United States were maintained. The 
"Lodge" saloon to which I have referred, was 
one of the most famous resorts in the country. 
It was kept by John Sterling and William Gru- 
nauer, two men of extended reputation in the 
sporting fraternity • Mr. Sterling was a thor- 
ough gambler; a good-natured, warm-hearted 
man, always ready to help the needy or " skin 
a sucker." Mr. Grunauer was a.cool-headed 
player, and had always been very successful. 
Their faro game was in full blast, and hundreds 
of dollars changed hands there nightly. Fre- 
quently the game ran up into the thousands, 
and during its existence, I presume at least a 
million of dollars was lost and won upon it. 

Another great resort was the keno-rooms of 
Tim McCarthy, the noted billiardist, and cham- 
pion of the State of Indiana. This game was 
carried on for about three years, during which 

3 



50 Mason Long: 

time the proprietor netted at least twenty 
thousand dollars from it. Among its patrons 
were many of our most prominent business men. 
Keno is not a gambler's game ; it is played 
mostly by amateurs, who do not stop to think 
that it is a certainty for them to lose. When it 
is considered that the banker does not wager a 
cent, but upon every game takes ten per cent, 
of the money invested, it will be seen that 
the players have no chance to win in the long 
run. The game is played with cards having 
several rows of numbers across them ; corre- 
sponding numbers are placed upon ivory balls, 
which are deposited in a globe, from which they 
are withdrawn one at a time and the number 
called. As fast as the figures are called, the 
player deposits a button upon the corresponding 
number on his card, if it is there. The first 
player who gets a straight row of five buttons 
wins the game. The cards usually sell for from 
one dollar upwards, and the winner takes the 
proceeds after the percentage of the bank is 
withdrawn. At McCarthy's room these cards 
frequently sold as high as twenty dollars each, 
when the game was reduced to professional 
gamblers, making a pool of two hundred or 
three hundred dollars for the winner of a single 
game. 

In 1866 and 1867 Fort Wayne was noted, not 
only as a gambling town, but as the headquar- 



Converted Giambhr. 51 

ters of as desperate and skillful a gang of three- 
card monte men, pickpockets, and confidence 
men as could be found in the country. This 
gang was thoroughly organized, and numbered 
about thirty of the most expert operators in the 
United States. Their leader was Edward Ryan, 
who achieved a wide notoriety as the king of 
confidence men. For several years he and his 
pals carried things with a high hand in Fort 
Wayne. They exercised a potent influence in 
local politics, being feared by the politicians ; 
and through their lavish expenditures of their 
ill-gotten plunder, gained a tacit support from 
many merchants and business men, who profited 
from their patronage. 

This organization of thieves committed their 
principal depredations on the Pittsburgh, Fort 
Wayne & Chicago Railway, between Valparaiso 
and Lima, and the Wabash Railway, between 
Fort Wayne and Peru. Near the depot, in 
Fort Wayne, they carried on a saloon which 
was provided with secret rooms, trap doors, etc. 
In that hell many a poor fellow has been drug- 
ged and robbed of his last penny. They 
resorted to all kinds of expedients to raise the 
wind, from the simple picking of pockets, up 
to the most cleverly contrived and skillfully 
executed confidence games. They realized 
many thousands of dollars, which they squan- 
dered very freely, in gambling and extra va- 



52 Mason Long: 

gance. In the Fall of 1865, when the State 
Fair was held in Fort Wayne, they reaped a rich 
harvest. About thirty thousand people attended, 
and many of them fell into the hands of these 
Philistines. They operated with wonderful 
boldness and cunning. When a train arrived 
in the city, several of the thieves would jump 
into the cars, and begin picking pockets. As 
fast as they finished a man, they would chalk a 
cross upon his coat, so that the "boys" would 
waste no time upon him. The pocket-books 
would not be examined, but would be handed 
to confederates, who would hasten away with 
them. These accomplices would "skin the 
leathers " (take the money from the wallets), 
and then throw the empty purses on the roof of 
a shed at the rear of the robbers' saloon. To 
show how extensive these depredations were, 
it may be stated that at the end of the Fair 
week these pocket-books were gathered togeth- 
er and buried by one of the understrappers, and 
that they filled a bushel basket. He examined 
them and found sixty dollars in money, which 
had escaped observation. During this week 
the Ryan gang cleared many thousands of 
dollars. 

" Competition is the life of trade," as a usual 
thing, but Ed. Ryan did not appreciate rivalry 
in his line of business. He claimed a monopoly 
of Fort Wayne and the railroads centering 



Converted Grambler. 58 

there, and would not brook any competition 
if he could avoid it. Once he was considerably 
alarmed by the arrival of Dennis Marks, a 
notorious confidence man from Chicago, who 
came with a party of kindred spirits for the 
purpose of harvesting in the field which he 
(Ryan) claimed as peculiarly his own. Ryan 
determined to drive the Marks crowd from the 
city, and found it necessary to resort to strategy 
in order to carry out his purpose. So he and 
an accomplice, known as " Hoosier Brown," 
perfected a scheme to disgust Marks, and it 
worked most admirably. One winter's after- 
noon Ryan invited Marks to take a sleigh ride, 
and the latter accepted. The pair drove toward 
the county asylum, when they met an old bat- 
tered up specimen of humanity, trudging along 
in the snow, carrying a satchel. " There comes 
a good ; bloak,' " whispered Ryan. u Let's tackle 
him," said the Chicago sharper ; and stopping 
the sleigh, they accosted the pedestrian : 
" Hallo, stranger, where d'ye come from?" 
" Wall, I kum from out south hyar, where 
I jes' sold my farm, and I kind u' thut as how 
I d go out nuth u' town a few miles, and buy 
'nuther un, specially as I've got ther cash 
muney right here (tapping the satchel) to pay 
for it." 

At this, Marks' eyes glistened. He invited 
the farmer to jump into the cutter and ride to 



54 Mason Long: 

town. The three went to the St. Nicholas 
saloon, where a drink was had all around. 
Marks then attempted to swindle the supposed 
greenhorn with the lock game. Ed. Ryan pre- 
tended to assist him. Marks closed the lock, and 
bet the stranger one thousand three hundred dol- 
lars that he couldn't unlock it. The latter, after 
some discussion, took the bet, and the money 
was placed in the hands of Hugh Doty, the bar- 
tender. The intended victim readily opened 
the lock, and immediately grabbed the two 
thousand six hundred dollars, and started for 
the door. He (the supposed intended dupe) 
had been playing the lock game himself, and 
was prepared to beat it when necessary. 

" Stop that bloak ; he's got my sugar," cried 
Marks, as he started in pursuit, whereupon 
Hoosier Brown, for it was he, drew a navy 
revolver, pointed it at the head of the Chicago 
thief and said : 

" That money's mine. I won it and propose 
to keep it. D'ye hear." 

Marks heard, and realized that he himself 
was the victim of a sharp confidence operation 
by Ryan and Brown. The latter walked off 
with his one thousand three hundred dollars, 
and Marks and his crony speedily left for 
Chicago, satisfied that Fort Wayne was no 
place for them. 

The continued depredations of these confi- 



Converted Gambler. 55 

dence men, and their immunity from punish- 
ment, at last awakened public sentiment. 
The railroads passing through Fort Wayne ex- 
perienced a heavy falling off in travel, because 
passengers would avoid these lines if possible. 
The companies employed detectives, but they 
accomplished little, but finally an incident 
occurred which led to the complete overthrow 
of the horde who had so long been undisturbed 
in their nefarious operations. Ryan suc- 
ceeded in robbing an old man named Tucker 
from Columbia City, but Tucker was not made 
of the stuff of which most victims are composed, 
and pursued Ryan into the saloon with a re- 
volver. The thief attempted to escape when 
Tucker fired at him, the ball striking his collar 
button and then glancing off, thus saving his 
life. Ryan was captured and taken to the police 
station, where a large crowd gathered that 
night for the purpose of inflicting summary 
justice. The desperado was well guarded, 
however, and the mob, composed mainly of 
shop men, satisfied themselves with burning 
down the saloon which had so long served as 
headquarters of the gang. Ryan succeeded in 
getting bail which he " jumped'' and fled to 
Canada. He was afterwards captured, but 
escaped. He was re-captured and again es- 
caped. He was secured a third time and 
brought to Fort Wayne for trial. He secured 



56 Mason Long: 

a change of venue, and was tried at Wabash, 
where he was convicted and sentenced to two 
years in the penitentiary. He served his sen- 
tence, after which he was a wanderer over the 
earth until his death, which occurred a few 
months ago in Chicago. The gang dispersed 
when their leader was apprehended, and their 
chosen resort was given over to the flames. 
Most of them are dead, several having expired 
in prison, and others having met violent ends — 
fitting climaxes to their desperate and lawless 
careers. 

From the time that the confidence men 
deserted Fort Wayne, this city began to lose 
its prominence as a gambling center. These 
thieves had lost a large part of their booty to 
the professional sports, and when they departed, 
the gamblers found themselves short of victims. 
The thieves robbed the greenhorns, and in turn 
lost their " swag " at the faro bank or the poker 
table, taking to the road as soon as they were 
" broke " for the purpose of replenishing their 
exchequer. Those were indeed " lively times " 
in Indiana. 



Converted Gambler. 57 



CHAPTER IV. 

HOW 1 DEGENERATED FROM A BUSINESS MAN INTO A PRO- 
FESSIONAL GAMBLER — SEVERE LESSONS AT MY NEW 
TRADE - MY SAD EXPERIENCE AS MANAGER OF A 
MINSTREL TROUPE AND PROPRIETOR OF A VARIETY 
THEATER AT LAFAYETTE - UPS AND DOWNS AS A GAM- 
BLER—A FARO GAME STOPPED BY A FEARFUL POW- 
DER EXPLOSION. 

The taste I had got of playing seemed to have 
aroused all my passion for this vice, which had 
lain dormant for a few months. I sought every 
opportunity to repair my losses, and satisfy the 
fondness I had for gaming. I was an habitual 
visitor to McCarthy's keno rooms, although 
I knew as well as I know now that I had a 
dead certainty of losing at that game; but I 
could not resist the fascination. I also got to 
visiting Sterling and Grunauer's faro bank over 
the " Lodge " and there I dropped many dollars. 

I finally found that I could not be a gam- 
bler and a business man at the same time. As 
my trade had vanished and my reputation was 
clouded, I concluded to be a sport, out and out, 
and disposed of my grocery store for eight 
hundred and sixty-eight dollars. I then had my 
first experience as a faro dealer. I thought I 
understood the game, but in less than an hour 

3* 



58 Mason Long: 

after I opened the "bank" I had lost eight 
hundred dollars. The " sharks " as the out- 
side players are called, had " goosed my kit;" 
i. e., they had secured access to my tools and 
had tampered with them in such a way that 
they had a sure thing to win, while I had no 
possible chance. There are many ways of 
" goosing a kit," and gamblers are always 
striving to invent some new method of getting 
a dead sure thing on the game. If I had been 
an expert — if I had learned my trade, so to 
speak — I would have detected the scheme be- 
fore putting the cards into the box. The cards 
had been sandpapered, and a genuine sport 
would have noticed it. 

I had learned a lesson, however, and deter- 
mined to profit by it. T joined the " sharks," 
or " rounders," and for some time played 
against the banks. I was learning " the ropes," 
and " stood in " with many schemes of " snak- 
ing the kits." Sometimes they succeeded, and 
sometimes they failed. Finally I obtained a 
stake, and opened a faro game, in a room over 
the Occidental Billiard Hall, in Fort Wayne. 
The sharks determined to "give it to me," and 
having made keys to fit the locks, bribed my 
room boy to give them access to my tools. He 
allowed them to do so, and they proceeded to 
"doctor " my cards, by punching small holes 
in them. After this was done, the boy told me 



Converted Grambler. 59 

what had been going on. I examined the cards, 
found the holes, and filled them up with white 
putty. That evening I opened the game just 
as if nothing had happened. A large number 
were present, and they evidently expect- 
ed a " rich haul." I gave them all a chance to 
bet, and finally began dealing. Soon they all 
centered to one spot, the turn was made, and 
it " threw them." They looked at me and 
then at each other in blank amazement. None 
of them dared to speak, lest he expose the 
crowd. I acted as if nothing had happened, 
and did not seem to notice the quandary of 
the players. The scene was a comical one. I 
resumed dealing, and the next time there was 
a white show on top, they " bounced it," and 
lost again. Many a heavy sigh was drawn, and 
some of the lighter weights drew out, being 
short of funds. Their mouths were closed, but 
their looks and actions spoke louder than 
words. The game continued, and upon the next 
turn the " rounders " won. This was not surpris- 
ing as I had no advantage, as the case stood. The 
last winning renewed the confidence of my 
antagonists. They evidently imagined that 
-there had been some miscalculation on their 
part, but now they were certain, and they piled 
up their money. I let them crowd the limits, 
and upon the next turn they lost" again. This 
finished them; the crowd was broke. They 



60 Mason Long : 

"squealed" and " kicked " terribly, and asked 
to see the cards, thus exposing their own 
plot. They examined the cards, and saw just 
how they had been " taken in, and done for." 
They " played for even," but could not make 
it. The best joke of the whole transaction, 
was that my partner " stood in" with the out- 
side, trying to break me, and that he got a 
large and bitter dose of the medicine himself. 

I continued dealing without any incident 
worthy of note until the Spring of 1868, when 
I found myself ashore, financially, and obtained 
a position to travel for J. C. Kennedy, of Chi- 
cago, and sell soda fountains. I was thus 
employed during most of the summer, spend- 
ing my leisure time and spare change at the 
gambling table. In the Fall of that year, 
while at Kendall ville, Ind., I made the acquaint- 
ance of a man named McCoole, who was 
traveling with a small tent show. This was 
during the political campaign, and McCoole 
was giving performances at the dates and places 
of the joint discussions between Governors 
Hendricks and Baker. He had been doing a 
good business, and at his solicitation I took a 
half interest in the show. The great Mason- 
McCoole prize fight had just taken place, and 
we named our troupe the Mason-McCoole 
Minstrels. We gave two performances each 
day — one in the afternoon in the tent, and one 



Converted Grambler. 61 

in the evening at a hall. We showed at Ken- 
dallville, Waterloo, and other points. From 
the latter place I went to Toledo with four 
hundred and fifty dollars in my pocket, to 
engage " talent " for our "mammoth combina- 
tion " (as we called it on the bills) ; but instead 
of doing so, I fell against a faro bank at Toledo 
and lost every cent of it. I returned and 
joined the company. We played at Mishawa- 
kee to a fair business, and then proceeded to 
South Bend, where we rented a hall and 
announced a grand musical entertainment. 
The evening came, and so did the crowd. We 
had a large attendance, our receipts being 
about one hundred and fifty dollars. McCoole 
was in the box office selling tickets, and I stood 
at the door. About eight o'clock, just before 
time for the curtain to raise, my partner told 
me he was going down stairs for a moment, and 
said that I should take in money at the door 
until his return. I stood there and received 
about two dollars and a half in "shinnies" 
(fractional currency). It was past the time 
for the curtain to raise, and the audience were 
becoming impatient. About this time the 
owner of the hall arrived and demanded his 
rent. I told him McCoole had gone out with 
all of the funds, and asked him to wait until 
his return. He respectfully declined, and said 
the curtain should not go up until the money 



62 Mason Long : 

was paid. I argued with him, and offered him 
as security the canvas which we had purchased 
from Gilbert & Grady for one hundred dollars. 
He was obdurate, evidently believing that 
McCoole and myself were in complicity for the 
purpose of defrauding him. My position was 
indeed an embarrassing one. I had only two 
dollars and a half in monej^, was an entire 
stranger, and had to face an angry audience. 
I finally mounted the stage, and told the crowd 
the circumstances. I said that we were ready 
to proceed if the owner of the hall would let 
us, and concluded by throwing my scrip and 
tickets among the audience. They were very 
indignant, and I feared that they would use 
violence with me. They left the hall pell-mell, 
with many expressions of anger and disgust. 
The members of the company — none of whom 
had been paid for a long time — were uneasy at 
the turn affairs had taken, and thought that 
their private property would be attached. One 
of them owned a banjo which he valued at one 
hundred dollars, and he was determined to save 
it at all hazards. Sending a confederate to the 
front of the building, he let down the banjo 
from the window with a string, crying to a man 
below, " Is that you, Jake ? " " Yes," was the 
answer, and the instrument was let down into 
the hands of the — sheriff. That was the last 
seen of that banio. This incident confirmed 



Converted Gambler. 63 

the belief that we were attempting a deliberate 
swindle, although the only guilty party was 
McCoole. He had boarded a train and left the 
city, and from that day to this I have never 
seen or heard of him. 

I was left in 6outh Bend with ten unpaid 
performers on my hands, without money or 
friends, and with a number of bills to settle. 
I went to the hotel, and turned over the 
canvas to the landlord as security for our 
bill. I presume he has the canvas yet. We 
slept at the hotel, but were refused breakfast 
the next morning, and left the hotel hungry 
and broke. A thorough search was made of 
every member of the troupe, and finally we 
succeeded in discovering a dollar bill concealed 
in the watch pocket of one of the players. 
That was promptly confiscated and devoted to 
the purchase of a lunch. The company dis- 
banded, each person depending upon his wits 
to get out of town. 

I then formed a partnership with a fortune 
teller whose acquaintance I had made, and we 
proceeded to Kendallville, and then to Fort 
Wayne, my fare and expenses being paid by my 
new companion. At the latter place the fortune 
teller located at the Hedekin House, remaining 
three weeks, telling no less than two hundred 
and fifty fortunes, at one dollar each, within 
that time. This large business was the result 



64 Mason Long: 

of liberal advertising, and the success with 
which the past and present of the " seekers 
after knowledge" were told. This seemed 
remarkable, and was the subject of much 
amazement among the simple-minded persons 
who paid their dollars for a knowledge of the 
future. There was nothing supernatural, how- 
ever, about the success with which " fortunes" 
were told. I was getting half of the profits, 
and, in order to earn my way, made myself an 
active assistant. I knew almost all who went 
to have their fortunes told, and during the 
operation I w T as concealed behind a door, shar- 
ing my knowledge with the professor of occult 
mysteries. The victim was always placed with 
his back toward me. Thus, if the party was 
married, I nodded my head ; if single, I shook 
my head ; I signified the number of children he 
or she had by my -fingers, and in various ways 
I gave information which, when imparted by 
the fortune teller, produced the greatest sur- 
prise and wonderment. Such of my young 
readers as may feel tempted to consult these 
so-called ■" oracles " will see, from my narrative, 
that there is no reliance to be placed in them, 
and that, when they do tell the truth, it is 
either the result of a lucky guess, or of knowl- 
edge obtained in some manner not suspected 
by the victim. 

When our business became dull at Fort 



Converted G ambler. 65 

Wayne, we went to Huntington, and there, for 
obvious reasons, our success was not so great. 
We dissolved partnership, the fortune teller 
leaving for parts unknown. Sterling and 
Grunauer were running a faro bank at Hunt- 
ington, and they employed me to deal at- eight 
dollars per day. They were in bad luck, and, 
having lost eighteen hundred dollars, closed 
the faro bank and left for Fort Wayne. In 
the mean time I had gambled away all my 
profits from the fortune telling, and returned 
home. 

I then obtained the money due me for sell- 
ing soda fountains, amounting to seven hun- 
dred dollars. Of course the first thing I 
did was to seek a gambling room, and on 
Sunday night I found myself at the " Lodge," 
When I arose from the faro table that 
night, I did not have money enough to buy 
a cigar with, and was at a loss to imagine what 
to do next. 

The next morning I was sitting in the 
4fc Lodge " trying to invent some means of "rais- 
ing the wind,'' when I happened to think of a 
man in Lafayette, to whom I had loaned one 
hundred and ninetydollars, and who was about 
leaving for the Far West. I determined to go 
to Lafayette to see him, but how to get there 
was the question. I asked Grunauer — one of 
the men who had won my seven hundred dol- 



66 Mason Long : 

lars the preceding evening — for a small loan, 
but he refused unless I would put up a gold ele- 
phant as security. From his partner, Sterling, 
I met with better treatment. He advised me 
not to get discouraged, and when I stated my 
case handed me twenty dollars with which I 
went to Lafayette, arriving there with sixteen 
dollars. The man who owed me one hundred 
and ninety dollars had departed. I was about 
leaving for home, when I met one of the former 
members of the defunct " Mason-MeCoole Min- 
strels." He was performing at a variety theater 
in Lafayette, the proprietor of which was los- 
ing money and was anxious to sell out. At his 
suggestion I purchased the establishment, giv- 
ing my notes for three hundred and fifty 
dollars at three and six months' time. I 
went to Indianapolis, engaged the Reynard 
sisters who were billed as " celebrated ar- 
tistes" and I soon had my variety hell in full 
blast. It was located at No. 54 Fourth street, 
and will doubtless be remembered by many of 
the citizens of Lafayette as one of the hardest 
places ever kept in that city. I fitted up a bar, 
a green-room, and all the other adjuncts of a 
place of this character, and did a thriving busi- 
ness. The place was crowded every night. I 
changed the company every two or three weeks 
and employed a large number of " gifted stars " 
to cater to the tastes of my patrons. The 



Converted Grambler. 67 

green-room was conducted on the most approved 
principles. I bought wine at thirty-seven and 
a-half cents a bottle and sold it for two dollars 
and fifty cents. The "lady performers" re- 
ceived fifteen dollars a week each, and board, 
together with fifty cents commission for each 
bottle of wine sold. Strange to say, among 
the persons who paid two dollars and fifty cents 
per bottle for this wine, were the men from 
whom I had bought it for thirty-seven and a 
half cents. 

I charged an admission fee of twenty-five 
cents, each check calling for a glass of beer. 
This was done in order to avoid payment of 
license. 

My variety hall gradually became the ren- 
dezvous of disorderly characters and a nuisance 
in the eyes of decent citizens. 

After I had conducted it about eight months, 
a determined attempt was made to break it up. 
Nearly one hundred indictments were returned 
against me, but owing to legal irregularities 
and a failure of proof, I had them quashed at 
an expense of only five dollars, which I paid 
an attorney. I concluded that it was about 
time for me to remove, so I decided to shut up. 
Owing to a misunderstanding with the gas 
company, the theater was lighted with thirty 
tallow candles at the last performance, and 
resembled an Irish wake in appearance. The 



68 Mason Long : 

next day I closed the place, leaving stage, 
scenery, chairs, bar, etc., turned the key over 
to the owner of the building, and withdrew 
from the amusement business. 

I can truthfully say that among the many re- 
grettable episodes in my past life, there is none 
I look back upon with more sorrow and remorse 
than the one I have just related. I believe — 
and with my experience I certainly know 
whereof I speak — that of all the devil's inven- 
tions for propagating vice and dissipation, and 
leading young men into paths of immorality 
and indulgence, there are none more success- 
ful than " variety theaters" and " concert 
halls." They are perfect plague spots, full of 
evil and nothing but evil. The young man 
who frequents them is treading the path to cer- 
tain ruin, and I warn all who do not desire to 
become moral wrecks, to avoid these places as 
they would a pestilence. Wherever they are 
established they do an amount of mischief 
which no one can estimate. I regret to say 
that they are frequently patronized and en- 
couraged by business men who have sons and 
daughters growing up, and who are to a large 
extent responsible for their existence. I think 
the press and the pulpit, and an enlightened 
public sentiment, should unite to render the 
maintenance of such places of resort impossible. 

When I closed my variety theater, I had six- 



Converted Gambler. 60 

teen hundred dollars in my pocket, the profits 
of that enterprise. It is needless to say that 
this money lasted me but a short time. I went 
to Chicago, and a very few contests with faro 
reduced me to pauperism. I then returned to 
Fort Wayne, after an absence of nearly a year, 
and rented a small room over the "Occidental," 
paying sixty dollars a month rent, and having 
borrowed a little money, opened a faro game on 
a light scale. I opened a " fifteen dollar snap," 
(the bets being limited to that amount) and at 
the first sitting won one hundred and ninety-five 
dollars. I had a streak of " good luck," and 
for six weeks never suffered a single loss 
amounting to a hundred dollars. I had then 
gathered fortv-eteht hundred dollars. I hired 
a dealer with whom I left a " bank roll " and 
two five hundred dollar bank checks, to be used 
in an emergency. I then started for Indianap- 
olis, but had hardly reached there when I re- 
ceived a telegram to come home. Upon my 
return I discovered that my game had lost 
twelve hundred dollars. The dealer whom I 
had employed and trusted had played false with 
me, and by complicity with outsiders, had 
robbed me of the amount named. He was at 
once set down by the Fort Wayne gambling 
fraternity as a thief, and having lost the money 
he stole from me, as a "rounder" on outside 
games, he found the atmosphere very unconge- 



70 Mason Long: 

nial, and left for parts unknown. I contin- 
ued my game over the " Occidental " until my 
money had vanished, and I was compelled to 
close the bank and vacate my rooms. 

After this I remained on the " ragged edge," 
financially, for several months. I played on 
the " outside," occasionally borrowing a small 
" stake," and making small winnings, which 
were lost upon the next game. Finally I bor- 
rowed five hundred dollars of a friend and 
opened a faro bank on Main Street. I had 
bad luck, and was cleaned out immediately. I 
obtained two hundred and fifty dollars more of 
the same man, which went after the five hun- 
dred dollars, and again he advanced me two 
hundred and fifty dollars, which also vanished. 
A fourth time I applied to him, but he could 
only let me have ten dollars ; with this we 
went on a spree. I remained drunk constantly 
for weeks, both night and day, living on plain 
whisky, and taking but little food or sleep. 
Completely worn out, I finally sobered up. I 
was, of course, out of funds, and my debts 
amounted to about two thousand three hundred 
dollars. In order to get a start, I pawned an 
old watch for fifty-five dollars, and opened a 
game. By some means a rumor that I had 
won one thousand dollars, obtained circulation 
among the sports, and I took no pains to stop 
it, as I knew it would bring players against my 



Converted Gambler. 71 

bank. Luck had at last turned. The first 
night I dealt I won three hundred and sixty- 
five dollars. I kept on winning, and in less 
than three weeks I had paid all my debts and 
had a "bankroll" (business capital) of eight 
hundred dollars. As usual when successful I 
took to drinking, and my pile began to dwin- 
dle. Then I allo.wed outsiders to deal " snaps " 
(limited bets) at my game, and I played against 
them, usually winning, as few of them knew 
how to protect themselves. 

At this time I was dividing my attention 
about equally between drinking and gambling. 
While on a spree, I went to Upper Sandusky, 
Ohio, leaving my rooms and a bank roll of four 
hundred dollars with my dealer. At Upper 
Sandusky I met some boon companions, and 
indulged in a frightful debauch. One day, as 
I was sleeping off the effects of this indul- 
gence, under a large sycamore tree at the river 
side, I was handed a telegram, summoning me 
home. I returned to Fort Wayne and found 
my game broken up and my money gone. 

I remained quiet for a few weeks, and then 
re-opened my old rooms over the "Occidental." 
Fortune again smiled upon me, and in about 
seven weeks my net winnings amounted to over 
four thousand dollars. During this time I had 
remained sober, watched my game, and had not 
made a single losing of any consequence. This 



72 Mason Long : 

was entirely too much prosperity for me to 
stand. I came to the conclusion that I must 
have a horse, and T bought a trotter for one 
hundred and ninety dollars, purchased a nobby 
wagon at Detroit, and made my appearance 
with a flashy turnout. I entered my horse at 
the Huntington Fair, and carried off the prize 
in the "general purposes" class. For a few 
weeks I devoted myself entirely to my horse 
and to drinking. Almost every day I became 
intoxicated and drove out, scarcely ever return- 
ing, unless my recklessness had caused some 
accident. Frequently I landed the whole turn- 
out in the ditch, and rarely went to the stable 
with a whole wa^on. 

Laboring under the delusion that I had a fast 
trotter, I matched him against a better horse 
for two hundred dollar^ a side, and we had 
a trot on the snow, near the city. I of course 
came out second best, and finding I was beat 
did not stop, but drove straight to town, leav- 
ing a crowd of disgusted sports, who had bet 
on me, far in the rear. This was known as 
the " Birdie " and " Flossy " race. 

The large sum of money, which I had recently 
won, had about disappeared, and in order to 
get another start, I sold my rig at a great 
sacrifice, and invested the proceeds in faro. 
Of course I lost, and T found myself, as I had 
so often been before — penniless. 



Converted Grambler. 73 

In the Spring of 1871, I obtained a small 
stake and opened a faro bank in the third story 
of the building at the corner of Calhoun and 
Wayne Streets, Fort Wayne. There was no 
other game in the city at the time, and this one 
was well patronized. A great many transient 
sports visited Fort Wayne those days and they, 
together with merchants, bankers, saloon-keep- 
ers, clerks, bartenders, railroad conductors, etc., 
composed the players. Occasionally a church 
member dropped in and took a hand. Among all 
of the players, passenger conductors and bar- 
tenders were the hardest for us to keep broke. 
Many saloon-keepers visited us once or twice a 
week, and left with us, for safe keeping, all 
their available cash. The game kept up remark- 
ably well, hundreds of dollars changing hands 
every night. 

While I was conducting this bank, an incident 
took place which is, I think, worth relating. 
One night in June, 1871, I was dealing and 
there was an exciting game in progress for " big 
money." Suddenly we discovered a bright 
light in our windows, and soon became aware 
that Are was raging in the adjoining building. 
The steam engines were throwing water on the 
fire, and we could hear the noise of the large 
crowd which had assembled in the street below, 
and the shrill voices of the firemen and police- 
men as they moved about in the discharge of 

4 



74 Mason Long : 

their, duties. The game was kept up as if 
nothing had happened ; not a player rose from 
his seat, not a man passed in his checks, so 
engrossing was the sport. It was suggested that 
we would not move until the walls grew hot, 
and we kept on dealing and playing, with the 
adjacent building in flames. It was not until 
an explosion took place, which shook the edifice 
from foundation to roof, that some of the players 
became terrified, drew out of the game and left. 
I continued dealing, however, and scarcely a 
word was spoken as the game progressed, 
although the roar from the street below was 
becoming louder and louder. In a few moments 
a second violent explosion occurred which 
moved the building several inches, shattered 
every window in our room to fragments, lifted 
the door from its hinges and overturned the 
check rack. This made the stoutest heart fail, 
and the most hardened countenances blanch. , 
We feared that the stairway had been torn 
away, and all egress cut off, and the reckless 
men, who had been tempting fate, forgetting 
everything, rushed for the exit. No one waited 
to get his checks cashed, and I never closed 
a game more suddenly. The stairways were 
all right and we soon reached the street. We 
found that the fire had originated in the cellar 
beneath Boltz's grocery in the adjacent build- 
ing. The first shock was caused by the ex- 



Converted G-ambler. # 75 

plosion of some oil in the cellar, which had been 
afterward flooded with water. The boiling oil 
ran along the surface of the water and gener- 
ated gas. When Fred. Hilsman, a torch boy, 
entered the cellar, this gas exploded with a 
loud report, killing him instantly and wounding 
about twenty-five persons. Mr. Ferd. Boltz, 
proprietor of the grocery ; Thomas Mannix, the 
Chief Engineer of the Fire Department ; John 
Downey and Edward Downey were among 
those most frightfully burned. Their sufferings 
were most intense, and they presented as hor- 
rible a spectacle as I ever witnessed during the 
war. We gamblers devoted the remainder of 
the night to caring for the wounded, who were 
removed to hospitals and private residences. 
This striking episode was a great shock to all 
of us, and we did not recover from its effects 
for some time. 



76 „. Mason Long . 



CHAPTER V. 

THE HORRORS OF DELIRIUM TREMENS — VISIONS OF THE 
"WHITE MICE''— REPEATED CAPTURES BY THE POLICE 
— LUDICROUS FLIGHT OF A BLOODTHIRSTY SPORT — 
LARGE WINNINGS INVESTED IN A PALATIAL SALOON 
AND GAMBLING DEN— RECKLESS DISSIPATION AND PROD- 
IGALITY—AN HOUR IN JAIL-LOW EBB OF FORTUNE. 

I was completely unnerved by the terrible 
event which I described in the concluding 
pages of the last chapter. I did not make a 
single winning for at least a month. I was 
extremely nervous whenever I sat down at a 
card table. Becoming discouraged, I betook my- 
self to my usual resort, the bottle, and indulged 
in a prolonged spree. For many days I sub- 
sisted almost entirely upon raw whisky, sleep- 
ing but little, and eating scarcely anything. 
At last I found myself suffering from my first 
attack of delirium tremens. My visions assumed 
the forms of white mice. They were ever 
before my eyes, waking or sleeping. They 
were constantly present in my diseased imag- 
ination, crawling over my bed at night, swarm- 
ing about my person by day, advancing toward 
me in vast multitudes, crawling about my feet 
with every step. In vain did I attempt to 



Converted Gambler. 77 

shake off this dreadful vagary; with every 
effort the white mice increased in numbers, 
until it seemed to me that thousands of them 
were about me, and that I would never be able 
to free myself from them. They seemed within 
my reach, but when I clutched at them they 
evaded my hands, and seemed to laugh demon- 
iacally at my fruitless attempts to capture them. 
My physical condition was pitiable ; I was pale, 
weak, nervous, exhausted, unable to collect my 
thoughts, or control my fancies. I slowly 
recovered from this attack, but it was many 
weeks before I regained my usual life, energy, 
and buoyant spirits. Thoroughly frightened at 
last, I determined to stop drinking, and for four 
months did not touch a drop. 

When I " got on my feet again," I opened a 
faro bank in the old rooms previously occupied 
bj Sterling and Grunauer. The game flourished, 
and for about three months I won steadily. 
One night there was a big game in progress, 
many prominent sporting men from abroad 
being present and playing against me, when a 
posse of police suddenly made their appearance, 
entering through the skylight and the rear 
windows, which they had reached by means of 
a ladder. The game was intensely exciting, 
and we did not hear the approach of the 
"peelers." Our first intimation that they were 
in the vicinity, was when they stood before us 



78 Mason Long : 

and told us to consider ourselves under arrest. 
The countenances of the eighteen players in 
the room were indeed a study, and presented a 
ludicrous spectacle. This raid was the imme- 
diate result of the threats made by one of the 
number, who had threatened publicly to kill 
the first " peeler " who should ever attempt his 
arrest in a gambling room. This threat nettled 
the bold chief, " Mike " Singleton, who laid his 
plans carefully to "bag" this dangerous (?). 
sport. The raid was cleverly executed, and, as 
was to be expected, the valor of the sanguinary 
individual referred to, rapidly oozed out at the 
pores. In the confusion, he entered my sleep- 
ing apartment and ]ocked the door. The police 
attempted to force it open, but I warned them 
not to do so, as the room was a private one, not 
used for gambling purposes. They allowed us 
to settle up the game, and then confiscated my 
tools, and marched us to the lock-up. As we 
reached the hallway, the cowardly braggadocio 
who had locked himself in my bedroom opened 
the door, dashed through the gambling hall, 
and jumped out of the back window, taking 
sash and all with him. He landed in a garden, 
and thus made good his escape, as the police 
could not leave us to look after him. 

I had won five hundred dollars before the 
raid, but had to deposit one hundred and eighty 
dollars to secure the release of the crowd, and 



Converted Q-ambhr. 81 

in the bargain, lost my kit of checks, valued at 
one hundred dollars. 

Of course, these police raids were of more 
or less frequent occurrence. During my ten 
years of gambling in Fort Wayne, my house 
was " pulled," on an average, two or three 
times annually. I never allowed any man 
caught in my place to be locked up, even if I 
had to borrow money to bail him out with. 
I presume I have paid into the city treasury of 
Fort Wayne, in consequence of these arrests, 
not less than two thousand five hundred or 
three thousand dollars, not to speak of the 
loss I sustained by the confiscation of many 
valuable kits of tools. 

The newspapers and the public generally are 
in the habit of censuring police officers for the 
infrequency of their raids upon gamblers, and 
in many cases, without reason. It is a most 
difficult matter to make these arrests success- 
fully. The police have no right to break into 
a room upon suspicion, merely, and they do so 
at their own risk. In order to work a con- 
viction, it is necessary to prove the gambling, 
and that is very frequently hard to do, as, in 
many cases, it could only be done through the 
testimony of the players themselves, and no 
one can be required to criminate himself on the 
witness stand. Many skillfully planned and 
cleverly executed raids have proved " water 



82 Mason Long :. 

hauls," merely ^because the officers were unable 
to show positively that gambling was being 
done. The doors are always kept locked and 
bolted, with a guard outside to give warning, 
by an understood signal, of the approach of the 
" cops." It is an easy thing to secrete and lock 
up cards, tools, etc., and by the time the officers 
gain admission — if they do so at all — they fre- 
quently find only a party of gentlemen quietly 
smoking cigars and reading the newspapers. 
The officers have no right to break open trunks, 
or closets, upon suspicion that they contain 
gambling tools, and, in such cases, it is useless 
to make arrests. 

I have known the police to work for weeks 
devising some plan of bagging a nest of sports. 
They usually choose a time when the gamblers 
are supposed to be " flush," in order that the 
city treasury may receive a " benefit." They 
scale buildings, climb ladders, let themselves 
down from the roofs through skylights, dis- 
guise themselves in citizen's clothes, and, in 
fact, resort to all manner of stratagems to cap- 
ture the gentlemen who buck the tiger. 

Of course, there are many ludicrous inci- 
dents connected with these affairs. One night, 
while I was keeping a room at 74 Calhoun 
Street, Fort Wajnie, the " peelers" stealthily 
crept up to our outside guard, who was sitting 
in front of the door asleep, seized him, and 



Converted Gambler. 83 

before he was fairly awake, had taken the keys 
from his pocket, and entered our room, much 
to our disgust and amazement ; of course, we 
had to "walk up to the captain's office and 
settle." 

Occasionally a man who never plays drops 
into a gambling room as a spectator, through 
mere curiosity. When such " innocents " find 
themselves in the hands of the police, their ter- 
ror is very amusing to the thoroughbreds, who 
are hardened to such experiences. I remember 
distinctly the futile and ridiculous efforts of 
two of these " spring chickens " to escape from 
the blue coats in one of my Fort Wayne rooms, 
on West Berry Street. There was a small 
dumb waiter in the room, in which drinks and 
cigars were brought up from the saloon below. 
This was about large enough to hold a very small 
tray ; but when the officers arrived that night, 
these two boys jumped into it and attempted to 
run it down. It is as hard for a camel to pass 
through the eye of a needle as it was for these 
worthies to descend through this small space ; 
and as the police gently took them forth from 
their ridiculous hiding-place, their countenances 
presented a decidedly sheepish aspect. This 
was probably their first visit to a gambling room, 
and they had never played ; but like the rest 
of us, they had to " plank down " ten dollars 
each. It was probably the best thing that 



84 Mason Long : 

could have happened them, as they doubtless 
concluded to keep out of such places in future. 
One of my sporting enterprises in Fort Wayne 
was a private " club room " for gentlemen. 
This place was frequented by some of the lead- 
ing business men and wealthiest citizens of Fort 
Wayne, who liked to play among themselves, 
but did not desire to come in contact with reg- 
ular sporting men. They were bankers, capi- 
talists, merchants, city and county officials, and 
men of that class. While I kept this room, the 
mayor received an anonymous letter, to the 
effect that it was resorted to by mechanics, 
laboring men, and others, who were there rob- 
bed of the money which their wives and chil- 
dren needed. Upon the strength of this, he 
ordered the chief of police to make an imme- 
diate raid, and to refuse less than fifty dollars 
bail in each case. And so we received a call 
one night, and the " peelers" found six of the 
leading citizens of Fort Wayne having a quiet 
game of poker among themselves. They were 
all put under arrest, but, of course, promptly 
furnished bail. One of the police " froze " to 
my check-rack, which I hated to part with. I 
tried to get it from him by various devices, 
which proved fruitless. Finally, as the police 
were about leaving, I invited them to " take 
something." The room-boy brought up a 
44 round of drinks," and the "peeler" laid 



Converted Gambler. 85 

down my check-rack while he absorbed his 
liquor ; when he had swallowed his drink, he 
reached for the " rack," but it was gone — safely 
lodged in a clothes-press, which was locked, 
and which the police dared not open. They 
could get no information as to the mysterious 
disappearance, and took their departure minus 
the trophy ; the chief, in the meantime, admin- 
istering a severe reprimand to the officer whose 
fondness for liquor had caused the trouble. 

After our guests departed, we had another 
game, in which I won four hundred and twen- 
ty-five dollars from the business men, none of 
whom has probably forgotten this, to them, 
eventful night. 

The "raid" which caused the bully to jump 
from the window, frightened the owner of the 
building, and he gave me notice to vacate. I 
then returned to the room which I had occu- 
pied at the time of the explosion. There were 
two faro banks in full blast in this building, 
one kept by a noted Louisville sport named 
Gregg, who afterwards died of small pox, and 
the other by myself. Business was good here, 
but I soon made another move to No. 60 Cal- 
houn Street where I ran the largest game I ever 
had. During the races of 1872, there was "big 
money" lost against my game. In one night I 
won over twenty-two hundred and fifty dol- 
lars in two hours, of which seventeen hun- 



86 Mason Long : 

dred dollars was lost by Jesse Winter, a 
well-known gambler of Cincinnati, and four 
hundred dollars by a traveling salesman for an 
Indianapolis firm, who was shortly afterward 
sent to the penitentiary for embezzlement. 

In the Spring of 1873, two men from Fort 
Wayne and myself opened a faro game at Lo- 
gansport, where we speedily lost our bank roll 
of two thousand dollars. My partners returned 
to Fort Wayne for money, and during their 
absence, I borrowed two hundred dollars, and 
opened a two hundred dollar "snap." I won 
seven hundred dollars the first night, and when 
my partners got back had thirty-one hun- 
dred dollars. We re-opened our game with 
a nine hundred dollar bank roll, which disap- 
peared the first two nights, whereupon my 
partners left in disgust. I remained in Logans- 
port and dipped into a big game of poker at 
which I lost twenty-one hundred dollars in 
one week. I then resumed faro, and having 
won nine hundred dollars left for Fort Wayne 
with sixteen hundred dollars in my pocket. 

I then determined to embark in the saloon 
business, and conduct a gambling room in con- 
nection therewith. I leased a building at No. 
74 Calhoun Street in the Summer of 1873, and 
fitted it up at an expense of thirty -five hundred 
dollars, of which I paid sixteen hundred dol- 
lars in cash. The saloon, when thrown open, 



Converted Gambler. 8T 

was the handsomest in the city. There was 
an elegant black walnut bar, a black wal- 
nut sideboard, costing five hundred dollars, 
mirrors, Brussels carpets, etc. The rooms were 
supplied with fine billiard tables which I pur- 
chased on time, giving my notes therefor, and 
afterward winning the notes from the holder 
at the gaming table. 

I opened to an immense business. My prede- 
cessor at this place, took in only from three to 
eight dollars a day ; but the first day I opened, 
my bar receipts were forty dollars, and they 
increased daily until they reached one hundred 
and seventy-five dollars. The first month my 
sales amounted to twenty-two hundred and 
fifty dollars for whisky, billiards, etc. My 
gambling rooms were in the second story, and 
business was so brisk that I had to have two 
kits and tables, and two games frequently run- 
ning in one room. The first year, the entire 
institution, gambling room, saloon, etc., netted 
me over eight thousand dollars, and yet at its 
termination, I was fifteen hundred dollars in 
debt, all caused by recklessness, extravagance, 
and dissipation. During the Northern Indiana 
Fair of 1874, I reaped a rich harvest. I con- 
ducted a bar two hundred feet long at the Fair 
grounds, and on the day of the Firemen's 
Tournament, when there were said to have been 
forty thousand people on the grounds, the re- 



88 Mason Long : 

ceipts were thirteen hundred and sixty-five 
dollars for beer, whisky, and cigars at this 
place. On the same day, the receipts at 
my saloon and gambling hall were fourteen 
hundred and fifty dollars, most of which was 
realized from the games. During these races, 
there were three games of faro and one "red 
and black table" in constant operation in my 
rooms. 

Another profitable time for me was the great 
Soldiers Re-union of 1874, when my receipts 
were very large. Many of them dropped in to 
see me, and one night I won about nine hun- 
dred dollars from them, for old acquaintance 
sake. 

These were the most profitable days, finan- 
cially, I ever had, and yet they availed me 
little. I was constantly in debt, and squandered 
my money in all kinds of reckless dissipation 
and extravagance. My establishment being 
the headquarters of professional gamblers, 
attracted many loafers and hangers-on. This 
gradually drove away my best customers. I 
drank and caroused around freely, neglected 
my business, and let my stock run down. 
Whenever I got two thousand, three thousand, 
or four thousand dollars together, I left the city 
to attend horse races, chicken fights, or some 
other similar affair, and frequently returned 
without a cent. 



Converted Gambler. 89 

I will describe one trip, as an illustration. 
In the Spring of 1874, I left home to attend a 
chicken fight, at Tolleston, Ind., the match 
being between the Chappell Brothers, of 
Detroit, and Jerry Monroe, of Chicago. I was 
on a spree when I left home, and took a bottle 
of whisky with me, from which I drank so 
freely that I was carried past Tolleston, and 
into Chicago, where I arrived in the morning. 
I stepped into a restaurant, took a cocktail, 
ordered breakfast, and while it was being 
prepared, went up stairs to visit a faro game ; 
while my pheasant was being broiled, I won 
eight hundred and forty dollars, and when the 
bell rang for breakfast, I sat down with that 
amount of winnings in my pocket. I dropped 
into a pawn-shop, where I paid five hundred 
and twenty dollars for a watch and chain, and 
one hundred and forty five dollars for a pair of 
bracelets, for neither of which I had any use, 
and returned to Fort Wayne. I mention this 
simply as an illustration of the extravagance 
and recklessness of the average gambler. In 
three days after purchasing this watch and 
chain, I had it pawned for three hundred dol- 
lars. I frequently had it in " soak " after that, 
and altogether I presume I borrowed not less 
than twenty-five hundred dollars upon it. 
I finally sacrificed it for one hundred and 
seventy dollars. 



90 Mason Long : 

My palatial gambling room and saloon was 
rapidly becoming one of the worst dens in the 
city* That which I had originally intended as 
a resort for gentlemen and business men, 
became finally the headquarters of all the blear- 
eyed bummers, whisky bloats, and dead-beats 
in the city. People with any claims to respect- 
ability, avoided it studiously. The newspapers 
" wrote it up, 1 ' and facetiously denominated it 
"Mace Long's Bazaar," and " Mace Long's 
Confectionery." My game was deserted, I was 
out of funds, badly entangled in debt, and 
I gave myself up to the grossest intemperance. 

About this time I employed an old soak 
known to local fame as "Deacon" Bronson, as 
my bartender. The Deacon was a " charac- 
ter." Once a prominent railroad man, after- 
ward the proprietor of some of the most 
fashionable and popular drinking resorts in the 
city, the Deacon had gone down step by 
step, until he had become a mere common 
drunkard. His excessive use of liquor had 
softened a brain which had never, to tell the 
truth, been phenomenally developed; and the 
Deacon, was a target for all the corner loafers 
in town. 

I employed the Deacon at a nominal salary, 
his board and liquor being the main induce- 
ments. His duties were not very arduous, but 
he exerted himself quite successfully to see that 



Converted Grambler. 91 

my stock of liquors did not accumulate too 
fast. The customers were quite scarce, and 
those who did call were usually out of funds. 

One cold winter morning an event of unus- 
ual interest transpired. A customer called — 
a real customer, with a clean shirt on, and 
some money in his pocket. I had been absent 
for some time on a spree. The Deacon had just 
opened the saloon, and had searched in vain 
for his morning bitters, the stock of liquor 
being exhausted. He was standing behind the 
bar, rubbing his hands and looking decidedly 
uncomfortable, when the aforesaid stranger 
entered. 

" Give me some whisky," said he. 

11 We haven't got any whisky this morning," 
drawled out the Deacon, rubbing his hands as 
before. 

" Well, give me some beer, then." 

"We haven't got any beer," again whim- 
pered the Deacon, in his usual sing-song style, 
still rubbing his hands. 

" Give me a cigar, then," was the next order. 

" We haven't got any cigars," said the Dea- 
con, as he rubbed his hands some more. 

"What in h — have you got?" ejaculated 
the would-be customer, in disgust. 

" We have some real nice claret wine," 
replied the Deacon, as he took another rub at 
his hands. 



92 Mason Long: 

" D — d if I'll make an ice cream freezer out 
of my stomach such a day as this," was the 
final remark of the gentleman, as he passed out 
the door. 

Claret, as the reader is aware, is a summer 
drink, and is as much out of place on a cold 
winter's day as ice cream or soda water. 

I arrived at the saloon shortly afterward, 
learned the situation, and concluded to stock 
up. I handed my able assistant ninety cents, 
and with that amount he visited the Fruit 
House, purchased a gallon of the "best 
imported liquor," and when he returned we 
were again ready for business. The Deacon 
took care that the whisky should not spoil. 

About this time I made a desperate attempt 
to retrieve my failing fortunes. I sold off my 
billiard tables to citizens for their private resi- 
dences. I converted my establishment into a 
beer saloon, with waiter girls as attractions. 
This expedient revived business temporarily, 
but trade soon dropped off again. My institu- 
tion was more of a nuisance than ever, for 
there are few greater pests in a city than these 
waiter-girl saloons. 

About this time some of my creditors became 
impatient with me, brought suits, and obtained 
judgments. Executions were issued against 
me, and one night at a late hour a constable 
entered my saloon for the purpose of making a 



Converted Gambler. 93 

levy. I was drunk, and was sitting at a beer 
table with a couple of boon companions, who 
were in the same condition. The constable 
was at least as drunk as I. When he served 
the execution I said I would lock up, and give 
him the keys until the next morning, when I 
would raise the money and pay the judgment. 
He told me to keep open and sell, and he would 
stay and take the money, to be applied in pay- 
ment. I consented, and resumed my seat at 
the table, anxiously waiting for some customers. 
Soon I noticed the officer behind the bar deal- 
ing out the whisky and cigars to himself, and a 
crowd of his dead-beat associates. Of course 
I protested, whereupon he took hold of some 
furniture and began moving it out. Upon this 
I seized him by the neck and produced consid- 
erable pressure upon his windpipe. He then 
took his departure, threatening to return 
shortly. 

I again seated myself with my two compan- 
ions, and in a little while the enraged officer re- 
turned, entering through the back door which 
I had forgotten to lock. He tried to read the 
warrant, but was too drunk to do so. I con- 
sented to accompany him, however, and started 
out of the door with him. As we were leav- 
ing, my two pals showed their devotion to my 
cause by novel demonstrations, one of them giv- 
ing the constable a terrible kick in an exposed 



94 Mason Long: 

portion of his anatomy, and the # other placing 
the lighted end of a cigar gently against his 
neck. He uttered an exclamation of pain and 
hurried me before a magistrate, where I was 
ordered to give fifty dollars bonds for my ap- 
pearance the next day, and being unable to do so 
was committed to jail. I walked over with the 
constable and when we entered the building 
I dealt him a vigorous blow in the head, laying 
him flat upon the stone floor- The turnkey 
seized me and hustled meHnto a cell. There 
were two horse thieves in the next cell and a 
murderer just above. I undressed, laid down 
on my bunk, and soon fell into a drunken 
slumber. In a short time I was awakened, two 
friends having come over and secured my re- 
lease. Thus ended the only "half hour in 
jail " I ever passed. 

The next day I raised the wind, paid my 
fine, and in the evening re-opened my faro 
bank with only seventy-five dollars on hand. 
I made some small winnings, but, convinced 
that it was useless to attempt longer to stem 
the tide, I therefore "locked myself up," 
i. 0., closed the saloon and disposed of it to the 
best advantage for the benefit of my creditors. 
The remnants of the establishment which had 
originally cost thirty-five hundred dollars 
sold for only four hundred and twenty-five 



Converted Gambler. 95 

dollars, and that amount I handed over to my 
creditors. 

Then I was afloat again. The vice of intem- 
perance had kept growing upon me and I 
was intoxicated most of the time. I opened a 
"gentleman's poker room," but scarcely any 
one visited it, and I was generally too drunk to 
attend to it; I was " going down hill " more 
rapidly than ever, and every one was ready, as 
usual, to give me a kick. I partially recovered 
myself, however, and returned to my former 
rooms at No. 60 Calhoun, where I carried on 
my game with varying fortune, until my con- 
version, a little more than a year after. Then 
I bade farewell forever to the vice which had 
kept me a slave for so many years, broke the 
bonds which had held me so tightly, and found 
peace and happiness in believing. 



96 Mason Long. 



CHAPTER VI. 

"FOLLOWING THE TROTTERS "—SIGHTS AND SCENES ON 
THE TURF — MAKE-SHIFTS OF A BROKEN GAMBLER- 
CANADA BILL'S CONFIDENCE OPERATIONS — TRAVEL- 
ING ON "CHEEK" — A FOURTEEN MONTHS' DEBAUCH — 
ANOTHER HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE WITH DELIRIUM 
TREMENS. 

For eight years I made a practice of attend- 
ing the horse-races throughout the country. I 
"followed the trotters" from State to State, 
partly for the sake of gambling on the races 
and partly in order to participate in the large 
games which were in full blast during these 
meetings. I was thus engaged for the greater 
part of every season, and in the course of these 
tours passed through many adventures, such 
as are incident to the career of a gambler; 
some of them will perhaps be found of interest 
to the reader. 

My fortune in betting upon horses was al- 
most invariably poor. I never was able to 
" get into the ring," unless it was one intended 
for my especial benefit, in order to rob me. 
Once in a great while, however, I had a small 
sized " streak of luck " in this line. Among 
the earliest meetings I attended was at Hunt- 



Converted Gambler. 97 

tington, a number of years ago. Eight horses 
were entered in one of the races, two of them 
going in the pools as favorites and the others 
selling as a "field." I did not know a horse 
in the race, and concluded to buy the "field," 
which I did in a great many pools, on the 
night before the race. When I arrived on the 
grounds I discovered that all the horses had 
been withdrawn, save three, and I loudly pro- 
tested to the judges that they " couldn't make 
a field out of one old gray horse." But of 
course I was overruled, and the horses started. 
I tried to sell my pools for five dollars, but in 
vain, and held my tickets, as no one else would 
have them. In the first heat, however, one of 
the favorite horses was distanced for fear of a 
record. In the second the other was taken 
sick and drawn out, and this left the old gray 
to trot the race alone. I won a handsome 
amount, which I hastened to draw from the 
pool box; afterward the pools were declared 
" off," and I was besieged for the money, which 
I gently but firmly declined to pay over, to 
the disappointment of those who had bought 
the "favorites." Some of them threatened to 
"bend my nose for me;" consulting the dic- 
tates of prudence, I therefore hastened to 
town. 

That night I engaged in a game of poker with a 
stranger — a keen, wary, quiet individual, with a 



98 Mason Long : 

deep, mysterious look in his small, piercing eyes 
— who raked in all of my winnings on the race. 
I was cheating in the game but got beaten 
every time. I could not understand this, until 
I was informed that my adversary had a 
machine in his coat sleeve by means of which 
he played a " sure thing" game. The sports 
were anxious to examine it, and that evening 
we got the stranger engaged in an interesting 
game of billiards, at which he was an expert. 
The boys made some bets, and the stranger, 
getting warmed up, drew off his coat in order 
to play better ; while he was engrossed in the 
game, the boys purloined his coat, and took the 
machine out of the sleeve. When our new 
acquaintance discovered the trick which had 
been played upon him, he cried bitterly, saying 
he had studied three years to invent the con- 
trivance, by means of which he had victimized 
me so cleverly, but it had never worked suc- 
cessfully until that day. It was what we called 
a " sleeve hold-out," and that was the first time 
it was ever played on the Wabash, although it 
afterward became very common. With my 
customary bad luck I was its first dupe. 

Frequently while attending the races, in In- 
diana towns, I dealt faro, which is a popular 
game with those who delight in the turf. Once 
while visiting a fair at Goshen, I opened a bank 
in the basement of the Violett House, having a 



Converted Gambler. 90 

cash capital" of only three dollars. I took my 
chances of winning, and risky ones they were. 
No man who has never been " behind the box " 
can realize the feelings of one who opens a 
game with little or no capital and expects to be 
" broke " at every turn. On the evening in 
question I sold one hundred dollars worth of 
checks before pulling a card, and started out 
with losses of two hundred and fifty dollars ; 
at any moment the players were liable to pre- 
sent their checks, which I could not have 
redeemed, and if by this means they had dis- 
covered that they had been playing against 
nothing, their wrath would have been terrible. 
I realized my situation, but continued deal- 
ing with plenty of nerve, just as if I had 
thousands of dollars behind my game. Finally 
the game took a turn, and in about an. hour I 
was winner to the amount of three hundred 
and ninety dollars. Then I was very anxious 
to cease playing while I could redeem the 
checks and not expose myself, not knowing 
at what moment the run of luck would 
once more go against me. But it was early 
— I could invent no excuse to offer — so I 
kept on dealing until an incident occurred 
which put a summary stop to the proceedings, 
and released me from a very embarrassing- 
position. A drunken man, passing along in 
front of the hotel, stumbled and fell through 



100 Mason Long : 

the window into the basement where we were 
playing, carrying sash and all with him in his 
sudden descent. Of course it produced a great 
confusion, and the cry of " Police ! " being 
raised, the boys rushed from the table, remov- 
ing a large scantling which had been placed 
against the "door as a barrier, and making their 
escape in double quick time. I picked up 
money and kit and went to the office of the 
hotel, where I redeemed all my checks, and 
retired, about four hundred dollars ahead. 
Among those who played against me that 
night were a noted Chicago sport known as 
" Little Casino," and a notorious Toledo char- 
acter, Joe Bean, who had just won a prize 
fight at Cheyenne, and who, I believe, would 
have murdered me if he had known that he 
had played in all of his pugilistic winnings 
against my three dollars. Dealing without- 
capital, as I did that night, is grossly unpro- 
fessional, and no genuine sport would ever do 
it. I was " green " at the time, and had not 
learned my trade, or I would never have taken 
such a risk. 

With these winnings in my pocket, I fol- 
lowed a trail to a room in the upper story of 
the hotel, where I was " braced" out of two 
hundred and fifty dollars. A " brace" game 
is, I may ^explain, _one in which a man has 



Converted Gambler. 101 

no chance to win a bet unless the dealer breaks 
his finger, and that he never does. 

For several years I never failed to attend 
all the trotting meetings on the Indiana and 
Michigan circuits. Many times I visited the 
races at Jackson, where I alternately lost and 
won large sums at faro, but invariably came 
out behind on the horses. 

One day in 1872, when I was on the Jackson 
fair grounds, suffering from the effects of 
whisky and heat, I sustained a sunstroke, 
which laid me senseless on the ground. I 
was carried from the Park to the Union Hotel, 
where I remained unconscious for several clays. 
I was then removed to Fort Wayne, and it was 
some time before I recovered from the attack, 
which came very near cutting me off in the 
midst of my wicked career. 

The most memorable tour of the races I ever 
made was in 1876. This I shall always recol- 
lect as my " Centennial tour," and, as it was 
indeed full of incidents and adventures, and 
abounded in the ups and downs which charac- 
terize a gambler's life, I shall relate it some- 
what in detail, as a fair specimen of my general 
experience in "following the trotters." 

I began my summer trip at Peru, Indiana, 
where I opened a faro bank with a "roll" of 
eight hundred dollars, which disappeared in 
forty-eight hours. Meeting a Fort Wayne 



102 Mason Long: 

acquaintance, I borrowed twenty dollars, with 
which I visited a faro bank, played one deal, 
and drew out one hundred and twenty-five 
dollars. Hitherto I had usually bought the 
favorite in the pools, but had resolved to 
change my tactics this season, and buy the 
fields on all races, believing that was a sure 
way to win. I went to the Peru fair grounds 
and invested my one hundred and twenty-five 
dollars in field pools on a trotting race, against 
Monarch, Jr., getting odds of five to one. I 
was cautioned by friends not to be so reckless, 
as they said Monarch, Jr., was sure to win. 
But I adhered to my programme, and the 
favorite was almost distanced in the first heat. 
The field won, and after the race I drew six 
hundred and twenty-five dollars from the pool- 
box, less the auctioneer's percentage. A friend 
of mine, a lumber dealer, who had lost four 
hundred dollars on Monarch, Jr., reproached 
me for not letting him into my " sure thing," 
and scarcely believed me when I told him I 
had bought blindly. This was the first race 
that I had beaten in three years, and the sur- 
prise was a great one. 

I returned to Fort Wayne, where I remained 
over Sunday, and putting my room in charge 
of a couple of sports, told them I was off for a 
several months' tour. I then went to Jackson, 
where I lost every dollar I had, on faro the first 



Converted Grambler. 103 

morning, before breakfast. I laid idle at Jack- 
son the remainder of the week, and when I left, 
my valise, well filled with clothing, remained 
at the hotel as security for the board bill. I 
worked my way to Saginaw as groom on the 
horse train, walked over to East Saginaw in the 
rain, and proceeded to the hotel. In the mean- 
time I had borrowed one dollar, and purchased 
a ninety-nine cent pasteboard valise, upon the 
strength of which I expected to secure admis- 
sion to the hotel. In this, however, I was sadly 
disappointed; as I entered the hotel, and ap- 
proached the desk, the landlord cast a glance 
at me, let his eyes rest for a second upon my 
baggage, threw up his hands, and ejaculated : 
"We're all full." This cool reception was a 
decided surprise to me, but when I gazed upon 
my pasteboard satchel, it was easily explained ; 
it had been melted down by the rain, and the 
sole contents — one pair of badly soiled hose — 
were plainly exposed to view. The situation 
was an awkward one, and without a word I 
hurried away, leaving my valise behind, amidst- 
roars of laughter from the crowd who filled the 
office. 

I succeeded in obtaining quarters at another 
hotel, raised a small stake, and in a short 
time had won five hundred and fifty dollars at 
faro. From Saginaw I went to Detroit, thence 
to Toledo, and next to Cleveland, where I wit- 



104 Mason Long: 

nessed the great race between Goldsmith Maid 
and Smuggler, which was won by the latter. 
It is said Budd Doble lost twenty-five thousand 
dollars on that match ; it is therefore not strange 
that Mrs. Doble fainted in the private box of 
the amphitheater, when Smuggler passed under 
the wire leading the brave little mare. 

The next place I visited was Buffalo. Since 
leaving home I had made several winnings, but 
upon departing from Buffalo my cash capital 
y S had diminished to six dollars. In company 
with an old friend, Joe Hull, of Toledo, I went 
to Niagara Falls to spend the Sabbath. We 
registered at the Cataract House, and proceed- 
ed to visit Goat Island and the other points of 
interest. This exhausted our funds, and we 
returned to the hotel in a penniless condition. 
I had obtained my valise from Jackson, and by 
means of a clever stratagem, we got it out of 
the Cataract House, and boarded the train for 
Rochester. Hull obtained passage by means of 
his remarkable cheek, while I was carried on 
the strength of a letter " To all Passenger Con- 
ductors," indorsing me as an old railroad man. 
This letter was written for me by a notorious 
safe-blower, and by its aid I traveled hun- 
dreds of miles on Eastern railroads. I never 
learned the price of board per day at the Cata- 
ract House. 

Arriving at Rochester, I borrowed five dol- 



Converted Gambler. 105 

lars, which was promptly invested in cocktails. 
While in that city I was "staked," and made 
a winning of three hundred and twenty-five 
dollars on faro. I went on a terrible spree — 
during which time my money was taken from 
me for safe keeping — and left for Utica, but 
was so "tired" that I could not be awakened at 
that point, and was therefore carried through to 
Albany. Arriving at the latter place I found 
myself in my stocking feet, without funds, my 
valise gone, and one shoe in one car and one in 
another, with an empty whisky bottle in each. 
With much difficulty I gathered myself together, 
left the train, and entered the eating-house, 
where I got into conversation with a pleasant 
old gentleman, who talked to me kindly, and 
gave me some seasonable warnings against gam- 
blers and three-card-monte men. I wondered 
how they could take any advantage of me in 
my impecunious condition, and hastily ate my 
breakfast, and in passing from the hall was ac- 
costed by a clerk, who demanded a dollar for 
the meal ; pointing to the old gentleman, I said, 
" Father will settle that," and hurried away. 
I have often wondered how " dad " got out. 
I went back to Utica, and remained there 
several days ; soon after my arrival I got drunk, 
and my prolonged dissipation and exposure led 
to an attack of illness, which, though brief, was 
very severe. 



106 Mason Long: 

--.During my stay in Utica I was so " light," 
financially, that I was unable most of the time 
to attend the races. 

The city was crowded with people, and there 
was much gambling and robbing going on. The 
confidence men and monte players were in 
clover and counted their gains by the thou- 
sands. Among them was the most notorious 
and successful thief who ever operated in this 
country, " Canada Bill," whose name is familiar 
to every newspaper reader. He had rented for 
the week, at an exorbitant figure, a saloon on 
one of the principal streets of the city. Here 
he made his headquarters, and he had scores 
of "ropers " and " decoy ducks " on the streets, 
in the saloons, at the track, and, in fact, every 
where capturing ■" suckers." To these u cap- 
pers " he paid fifty per cent, of the amount 
realized from the "bloaks" they brought in. 
At the rear of the saloon there was a little 
room, carefully guarded, in which the robberies 
were committed. Only one party was allowed 
in this place at one time, so that the game 
might not be exposed to prospective dupes. 

On the afternoon of the great races at Utica, 
a well-known Fort Wayne sport, whom I will 
call "Dan," and myself, found ourselves with- 
out sufficient means to attend. Our cash was 
limited to a small supply of " shinnies," and 
we concluded to pass away the time in playing 



Converted Gambler. 107 

dominoes for the beer. While thus engaged, 
an elderly, well-dressed, intelligent looking 
gentleman entered the saloon and called for a 
glass of beer. He watched us play for a 
moment, and asked us to join him in his 
refreshments, which, it is needless to say, we 
promptly did. We drank two or three times 
together, and, getting into conversation, we 
learned that the stranger was a leading attor- 
ney from Albany, who was in Utica trying an 
important canal case. The old gentleman, 
being somewhat overcome with the heat, step- 
ped into a barber-shop near by and asked per- 
mission to sit in one of the chairs and cool 
himself off until the arrival of a customer. 
He sat down and soon fell asleep. I suggested 
to " Dan" that if we took him to Canada Bill's 
place, he might drop some money, and we would 
thus make a raise. " Dan " scouted the idea, 
saying he was too smart a man to be caught on 
three-card monte. But I thought not, and we 
determined at all events to make the effort. 
How to get the old gentleman out of the bar- 
ber's chair was the first problem that presented 
itself. Just then I saw a poor demoralized 
looking tramp wandering aimlessly about, and 
as he evidently needed a dose of the razor, I 
handed him money enough to get shaved, 
instructing him to go into the barber shop and 
demand the chair occupied by our Albany 



108 Mason Long : 

friend. He did so, and the lawyer stepped out 
of the shop. Meeting us, he suggested another 
glass of beer, whereupon I remarked that the 
best beer I had found in Utica was at a saloon 
in the next block, and asked if we should not 
go there. All were agreed, and we proceeded 
to " Canada Bill's." While en route there the 
attorney spoke of the large number of confi- 
dence men in the city, and the rich harvest 
they were reaping. "Dan" and myself ex- 
changed significant glances. This rather dis- 
couraged us, but we continued on our way. 
Arrived at Bill's establishment, we stepped 
into the back room, and I motioned for " Dutch 
Charley," of Chicago, the principal " capper," 
to come in and work the case, as I didn't 
understand it. We sat down at the table and 
were enjoying a glass of beer, when a rustic 
looking creature entered the room, munching a 
huge piece of pie, which he ate with palpable 
relish. He was a large man, dressed in coarse 
clothes, with a sunburnt countenance, a nose 
highly illuminated by the joint action of 
whisky and heat, and an expression of inde- 
scribable greenness and " freshness " about him. 
He at first seemed to notice no one, but sat 
down quietly at our table, and devoted himself 
strictly to his pie, until it had disappeared into 
his capacious stomach. 

This strange looking creature naturally at- 




THE DEMORALIZED TRAMP. 



Converted G-ambler. Ill 

tracted our attention. The Albany man was 
particularly startled by the apparition, and after 
a careful survey of the new comer, ejaculated, 
" My God, see what we're coming to." 

"Yes," responded I, "and we haven't got 
far to go unless we stop drinking." 

The subject of our remarks, who seemed to 
be in blissful ignorance of the fact that we were 
discussing him, at this juncture, looked at us 
and said: " Gentlemen, wont ye'z huv a drink 
of suthin' with me ? " We all declined the in- 
vitation, but continued to study the appearance 
and actions of the supposed " Hoosier," with 
much interest and amusement. He took no 
offense at our refusal, but quietly produced 
from the recesses of his great-coat pocket, a 
large roll of money, with a five hundred dollar 
bill for a wrapper. He noticed that we were 
watching him closely, and said : 

" I done better with this 'ere druv of cattle 
than I done on t'other trip. This time I cleared 
five thousand dollars from my druv, but last 
time afore this them New York chaps skinned 
me, confound 'em." After a pause he contin- 
ued : " But I had a little streak o' bad luck 
comin' down on the train from New York this 
mornin'. I met some strangers, and we had a 
little game with tickets like, and they bet me I 
couldn't turn the ticket, and won thirty-five 
dollars from me, durn their buttons." 



112 Mason Long*: 

" Why, man, you've been playing three-card 
monte," said our legal friend. " Don't you know- 
better than that?" 

" Thar, thar, that's what they called it ; three- 
card monte, that's it. Wal,df they did get my 
thirty-five dollars, I took their tickets away 
from 'em, plague on 'em. I am goin' to larn 
that 'ere game myself, so I kin git my thirty- 
five dollars back." 

With this remark, Canada Bill (for it was 
he) produced the cards, or tickets, as he called 
them, and began throwing them on the table in 
a very awkward manner. His clumsiness 
amused the party, and finally he said, " Wal, I 
want to get even, and I'll bet any man ten dol- 
lars he can't turn that 'ere ticket." 

" Dutch Charley " was on hand, and prompt- 
ly took the bet. After winning he said, " I'll 
bet you twenty, now." 

" O, you're too lucky," said Bill, " I won't 
throw 'em agin for you, no how ; but I'll try 
you for twenty dollars," continued he, turning 
to me, "and see how vour luck is." 

Charley slipped me a twenty dollar bill, and 
I won the bet. I offered to bet again, but Bill 
said : 

" Thar, thar, I lost again. Wal, did you 
ever see sich luck. I'm out now nearly one 
hundred dollars on these durned tickets. I 



Converted Gambler. 113 

won't bet yer twenty dollars, but I'll just put 
up five hundred dollars agin any ov ye'z." 

With this he turned the cards to win, the 
old gent from Albany meanwhile watching 
every movement closely, and evidently wholly 
engrossed in Bill's words and actions. 

" I have only eight dollars, or I'd bet you," 
remarked he. 

" Wal," said Bill, "I'll go yer two hundred 
dollars aoin ver watch and chain." 

" How do you know my watch and chain are 
worth two hundred dollars ? " 

" Wal, I didn't allow that a man o' yer 
standing wud war one that cost much less ; of 
coarse I'd have to luk at it afore I'd bet that 
much agin it." 

" It didn't cost me that much," said the gen- 
tleman, as Bill examined it. 

" I couldn't go yez no more'n one hundred 
and ninety dollars, stranger, on that 'ere watch 
and chain." 

The cards in the mean time had been lying 
on the table, and the attorney's eyes had never 
been removed from them. The bet was taken. 
Bill put his one hundred and ninety dollars in 
my hands, and the lawyer covered it with the 
watch, retaining the chain about his neck. In 
his excitement and haste to make the winning, 
which he considered a certainty, he reached to 
turn the card, when Bill covered the "tickets" 



114 Mason Long : 

with his hands, remarking : " Stranger, yer 
stake isn't all up yet." 

Thereupon the gentleman removed the chain 
from his neck, handed it to me and then turned 
a card. Of course he lost, and as quick as a 
flash of lightning, a complete understanding of 
the situation dawned upon his mind. He leaned 
back in his chair, rubbed his eyes, took a care- 
ful survey of the gang by which he was sur- 
rounded, and propounded the following co- 
nundrum : 

" Is it possible that I've been beat at three- 
card monte at last ! " 

64 Yes, you've got beat," quickly answered 
the shark as I handed him the watch. 

" Well boys," said the victim, who cared lit- 
tle for the pecuniary loss, but seemed humilia- 
ted at the fact that he had swallowed the bait, 
" I don't want to part with that watch and 
chain, because it was a present to me; how 
much will you take for it ? " 

" I've taken more than half a bushel of 
watches this week, and I don't know what to 
do with them, so I'll return this to you for one 
hundred dollars," said Bill, as quietly as if 
he were discussing the most legitimate business 
transaction. 

" I don't think my fun has been worth over 
fifty dollars to me," responded the attorney,"but 
I will give you that amount." 



Converted Gambler. 117 

44 Well, I'll take it, as I didn't have a great 
deal of trouble with you." 

A check was produced, the attorney filled it 
out for fifty dollars, signed it, and recovered his 
watch and chain. Bill sent a messenger with 
him to a business house to get the money. Ar- 
riving at the door of the establishment, the gen- 
tleman said he was well known there and de- 
sired to enter alone to avoid any suspicion. He 
asked his companion for the check, saying he 
would go in, get it cashed, and bring out the 
money. The fellow handed the check over, the 
lawyer hastily tore it into fragments and dis- 
missed the } r oung man with a kind message to 
his master. Upon reporting the facts he found 
himself out of a situation. "Bill," after all, 
lost his swag, and " Dan " and I failed to get our 
percentage. This was my first and last expe- 
rience as " capper " for a confidence man. Can- 
ada Bill made many thousands of . dollars that 
year during the races. He was a most expert 
operator and among his victims were many per- 
sons of intelligence and experience. The only 
way to avoid such sharks is not to bet on any 
thing, and I have described this game in detail, 
for the purpose of exposing the modus operandi 
of the sharpers who go about in search of 
victims, thus placing my readers upon their 
guard. "Bill" squandered his money very 
lavishly and drank himself to death in about a 



118 Mason Long: 

year after the incident I have related. He 
died a pauper. 

From Utica I went to Saratoga where I re- 
mained about ten days, during which I witnessed 
the great steeple-chase race which caused so 
much excitement and upon which half a million 
dollars is said to have changed hands. Vast 
sums were invested upon Osage. This horse was 
in the lead and had cleared nine of the twelve 
hurdles, when he fell and broke his neck, killing 
his rider at the same time. It was generally 
believed that the accident was caused by an 
attempt to pull him. After this my financial con- 
dition was such that I was compelled to walk to 
town. Repairing to the Grand Union Hotel 
where I had been sojourning, I explained my 
position to the clerk. 

" I bet on Osage," said I. 

" So did I," said the clerk. 

" But I'm busted and a thousand miles from 
home," said I. 

" Well, among twenty-five hundred guests 
we can afford to have one gentleman," said he 
as he marked my bill paid. 

" When do you leave," continued he. 

" When do you want me to leave ? " asked I. 

"Just as soon as you conveniently can," was 
the polite answer, and I was one of the passen- 
gers on the next train for the West. 

I traveled on the railroad letter before re- 



Converted Gambler. 119 

ferred to. Only once did I have any difficulty 
with a conductor ; that was between Syracuse 
and Buffalo. He looked at my letter and said, 
"all right, get off," when I rose to go, sorrow- 
fully remarking : 

" Is it possible that I have been a slave to 
railroad corporations all my life only to be 
treated this way at last ! " 

This touched the conductor's heart, and he 
carried me to Buffalo, where I arrived with 
eighty cents on hand. 

I had then been absent from home fourteen 
weeks, which had been passed in the most 
reckless dissipation. I had abused myself in 
every way, had deprived myself of food and 
sleep, and lived on whisky for days at a time. 
I now began to feel the inevitable effects 
of this course, and at Cleveland I found myself 
suffering from delirium, the horrors of which 
no pen can adequately portray. I imagined 
myself pursued by a vast drove of cattle, which 
swarmed about me, and followed me wherever 
I went ; they were continually on my trail, and 
by no efforts of the will, could I avoid the dread 
apparition. I crossed the street, only to find 
them there before me ; I turned a corner, only 
to see them coming toward me. I treaded on 
my tip toes, trying to steal away from them, 
but it was useless ; I fully realized my terrible 
condition, and, fearing that I was about to die, 



120 Mason Long : 

I took the train for home. When I entered the 
cars, the herd of steers went in the door with 
me ; when I looked out the window, there they 
were, keeping pace with the train, and increased 
an hundred fold ; waking or sleeping, they were 
ever before me. When I reached Fort Wayne, 
I thought to avoid them by hurriedly leaving 
the train, and going stealthily and quietly to 
my room, but I had taken only a few steps, 
when the entire herd, that had followed me 
from Cleveland, seemed to have concentrated 
into one huge ox, with piercing eyes and swell- 
ing nostrils, and a great horn in front. This 
prodigious animal, which stood ever in my 
path, seemed coming toward me, and I stepped 
into the gutter to avoid him. There he was 
also, and, in my despair, I reached forth to 
seize him by the horn, but he eluded my grasp. 
I passed several nights, which were filled with 
the most fearful horrors, at my room. So 
ungovernable was I in my terrible suffering, 
that I could induce no one to sleep with me 
through an entire night. Those dreadful cat- 
tle were still with me ; waking or sleeping, they 
were ever before my eyes. In the vain hope 
of relief, I left the city, and went to Waterloo, 
where I remained several days and nights, 
undergoing the most severe physical and mental 
torment. In my room was a nail head protru- 
ding from the wall, which, when I reclined 



Converted Gambler. 123 

- upon the bed, appeared, to my distorted vision, 
in alHcihds of grotesque and horrid shapes. It 
assumed the outline of a wild animal, seeming 
about to pluWe at me, and tear me to pieces, then 
it resumed rts natural form, and seemed to 
swell to the siVe of half a bushel ; and, anon, it 
took some otheV strange and forbidding aspect. 
I left my bed, perhaps, a score of times that 
night to feel of this nail head, in the endeavor 
to convince nvyself that it was not what it 
seemed to be ; but it was useless. 

Very slowly I recovered from the effects of 
my terrible debauch, and from my severe and 
prolonged attack of delirium tremens, which 
had well-nigh proved fatal. Strange to say, 
the fearful warning I received had but little 
effect upon me. For a time, I was compara- 
tively temperate, but before long I was again 
indulging the degraded appetite, which had so 
long held me in its power. 

In 1877, 1 visited the races, at Grand Rapids, 
Jackson, Detroit, Cleveland, and other points. 
I reached Detroit in company with a seedy 
looking gang of sports, and we all registered at 
the Gaffnet House ; I was then in funds, and 
paid five dollars, in advance, for board. The 
most of my companions, however, were penni- 
less, and the landlord, whose name the hotel 
bore, took one look at them, went up stairs, and 
died. It was said that he died of apoplexy, 
6 



124 Mason Long: 

but I always imagined that the shabby appear- 
ance of his new guests was the main cause of 
his sudden taking off. 

The races proved a failure on account of the 
restrictions placed upon gambling, and the 
sports failed to make a raise. Upon the day of 
Mr. Gaffnet's funeral they followed his remains 
out of the hotel, valises in hand, being the prin- 
cipal mourners, and taking the first boat, hastily 
crossed into Canada. I also went into Her 
Majesty's dominions, and passed a few days 
with a congenial party, at a small place called 
Brandenburg, where we indulged freely in 
white wheat whisky, I then proceeded to 
Cleveland, and feeling the premonitory symp- 
toms of delirium, I sobered up, and swore a 
solemn oath to drink no more. But, notwith- 
standing this vow, in less than twenty-four 
hours after my arrival in Cleveland, I was 
beastly drunk. I made a winning of one hun- 
dred and twenty-five dollars, and remained 
there two weeks, waiting for the races, during 
which time I drank freely. When I arrived 
home, in August, 1877, 1 was exhausted, penni- 
less, discouraged, and again on the verge of 
delirium tremens. That was my last experience 
in " following the trotters." 



Converted Gambler. 125 



CHAPTER VII. 

THE VARIOUS PHASES OF GAMBLING — GOOD AND BAD QUAL- 
ITIES OF THE GENUINE SPORTING MAN — PREVALENCE 
OF THE VICE AMONG BUSINESS MEN— THE MISERY AND 
RUIN IT CAUSES — A FEW WORDS TO THE SPORTING 
FRATERNITY. 

My fifteen years experience as a gambler 
gave me, I think, a pretty thorough knowledge 
of sporting men, and a clear insight into th^ir 
characters, habits, and modes of life. The 
world at large really knows very little about 
the men who gain a livelihood by " bucking the 
tiger/' and a few words concerning them will 
not, I fancy, prove either uninteresting or 
superfluous. 

Gambling is, I have somewhere said, a trade 
which can only be mastered by careful study, 
long practice, and keen observation. In this, 
as in everything else, experience is the best, 
if at the same time the dearest, teacher. The 
young gambler finds no one to instruct him in 
the mysteries of the calling which he has 
chosen. He learns his lessons one by one, as I 
learned mine, at the cost of many severe losses ; 
and however long he may follow the seductive 
but evil pursuit which he has embraced, he 



126 31aso7i Long : 

will never be able to truthfully say that he 
understands it thoroughly. 

Let me present, for the entertainment of the 
reader, a picture of the typical gambler. He 
finds, upon entering the fraternity, that it has 
its own code of morals, to which he must 
adhere rigorously, if he would enjoy the respect 
and confidence of the members. Sporting men 
are, in a certain sense, detached from the out- 
side world. They follow a vocation which the 
public very properly holds to be immoral, and 
which the laws of all civilized States forbid, 
but which, by its professors, is believed to be 
entirely legitimate and honorable. They demand 
of each other a strict adherence to a certain 
standard, which, however false and pernicious 
it may be, is by them regarded as an infallible 
test of manhood and decency. A gambler, to 
be successful, and well regarded by his asso- 
ciates, must 7>e possessed of iron nerve ; must- 
accept the successes and reverses of fortune 
with equal imperturbability; must be generous 
and extravagant to an excessive degree ; and 
must, above all. keep his word beyond suspicion. 
These requirements are imperative, and the 
so-called gambler who fails to comply with 
them is without standing or influence among 
his fellows. A miser, a liar, and a man without 
nerve and grit, who " kicks " at every reverse 
of fortune, is but poorly regarded among sport- 



Converted Gambler. 127 

in£ men, and is treated bv them with the 
utmost coldness and indifference. 

There are perhaps other essentials in the 
character of a successful and popular gambler, 
but the ones I have named are the most impor- 
tant. This will be the testimony of every man 
who knows any thing whatever of the subject. 

The gambler who has no nerve is a pro- 
nounced failure from the beginning. He will 
never accomplish any thing, and might as well 
recognize it from the start. The experienced 
sporting man will sit down at the table and win 
or lose thousands of dollars without changing 
expression or uttering a single exclamation. 
The very heaviest games — those in which 
large fortunes are risked upon the turn of a 
card, and in which men are enriched or beggared 
in a single evening — are conducted with the 
utmost decorum and amidst the most profound 
silence. A man enters the room, seats himself 
at a table, and mayhap places all his worldly 
wealth upon a card. The turn is made; he 
loses, and withdraws from the game as quietly, 
and apparently as unconcerned, as if he had 
been but a disinterested spectator. 

Again, he lays down an insignificant sum, 
and rises in a short time the possessor of thou- 
sands ; his demeanor is as impassive, his 
countenance as imperturbable, as before. The 
gambler, however deeply he may feel his loss, 



128 Mason Long: 

or however much elated he may be with his 
winning, must not in any way give vent to his 
emotions in a gaming room, or he will speedily 
lose caste and be pronounced a " dogan." 

This so-called nerve leads to a certain reck- 
lessness or foolhardiness, which always charac- 
terizes a genuine sporting man. I have already 
illustrated this* quality by several marked 
instances, among them that of the men who 
played with such coolness and passiveness 
while on the skirmish line, with bullets whist- 
ling past their ears, and occasionally killing or 
wounding a comrade; and also that of the 
indomitable players who, with an adjoining 
building in flames, and terrific explosions 
taking place in their immediate vicinity, sat at 
the faro table with as much calmness as they 
would eat their dinner. Of course such 
instances are, in a large degree, to be attributed 
to the terrible fascination which gaming has 
for its votaries, of the strength of which no one 
who has not fallen within its power can form * 
the most feeble conception ; but it is also par- 
ticularly to be ascribed to the quality of nerve 
which is so characteristic of a genuine sport, 
and which his avocation naturally inspires. 

The recklessness which makes a gambler 
"lose his pile" without whimpering, or coolly 
"buck the tiger" in a burning building, also 
makes him improvident, careless of the future, 



Converted Gambler. 129 

and lavishly extravagant with his money, when 
he has any. There is no class of men in the 
world who spend money so freely and so fool- 
ishly as sporting men. They stop at the most 
expensive hotels ; travel in the most princely 
style ; wear the finest clothing and most valua- 
ble jewelry ; drive the fastest horses ; smoke 
the most costly cigars, and drink the rarest of 
wines. There is no luxury which a gambler 
will not enjoy if he has, or can get, the money 
to pay for it. He will spend his last dollar for 
a superfluous article as freely and thoughtlessly 
as if he had a million of them in bank; and 
his motto seems to be, " Eat, drink, and be 
merry, for to-morrow ye die." 

The gambler becomes a spendthrift, not only 
from inclination, but also because of the habits 
of those with whom he associates, and because 
they demand that he should be. It matters 
not how saving or frugal he may naturally be, he 
must squander his money recklessly, or his rep- 
utation will fall below par. Therefore, in 
order to get the name, he will spend his lnoney 
in a silly way and in the most ostentatious man- 
ner, however hard it may be for him to do. 

In order to maintain his reputation, the av- 
erage sport will do many extremely silly things. 
I remember pawning my overcoat in the dead of 
winter for less than one-third of its value, and 
out of the proceeds paying one dollar and fifty 



130 Mason Long : 

cents for a dinner, and topping off with a 
twenty-five cent cigar. The sport thinks noth- 
ing of spending several dollars over a bar 
" treating" a crowd, in order to " keep up his 
4 rep.' " when he has to step out shortly afterward 
and borrow a few cents with which to buy a 
beefsteak for his family — that is, if they get 
any, which is very doubtful. 

In cities where there is much gambling and 
many sports, retail trade is always brisk, in 
many departments. The gamesters scatter 
their money lavishly about, and their patron- 
age puts thousands of dollars into the pockets 
of tradesmen. Among the institutions which 
invariably flourish where gamblers abound, are 
saloons and pawnbroker shops. Of course they 
are liberal patrons of the former, and a very 
large proportion of their winnings finds its way 
over the bar. Of the pawnbroker's shops, they 
are regular customers, and in them they are 
fleeced most unmercifully. They rarely obtain 
one-third the value of the article which they 
pledge. In a majority of instances, they are 
unable to redeem them at the specified time, 
and thus for a small sum, thej^ lose a watch or a 
diamond which cost them a handsome amount. 
Even if they make redemption, they have to 
pay from one hundred to one hundred and 
twenty per cent, interest, and in either case 
they are thoroughly " done for." 



Converted G-ambler. 131 

A large majority of sporting men, although 
apparently callous and hardened, are, in truth, 
kind hearted and charitable to a remarkable 
degree. They rarely refuse to extend relief in 
a case of distress, if they have any means, and 
I have seen many sports give up their last dol- 
lar to help some poor unfortunate person out 
of difficulty. They are also liberal donors to 
benevolent and charitable institutions. I my- 
self, when in the midst of my depraved career, 
have given goodly sums to churches which I 
never expected to enter, and a great many of 
my associates did likewise. I do not ascribe 
these acts altogether to goodness of heart. 
They are performed from a variety of motives. 
The gambler, being careless of money, is apt to 
give it away as freely as he would expend it 
for some superfluous article. He frequently 
contributes to benevolent objects in order to 
gain friends and acquaintances among busi- 
ness men, some of whom he hopes may visit 
his establishment. These investments, may, 
he hopes, tend to remove the prejudice existing 
against him and his calling, and save him from 
prosecution. Sometimes I think these acts are 
performed as a kind of conscience offering, and 
that the sporting man believes such deeds may 
atone in some way for his wicked life. 

There is a certain code of honor — so-called — 
which prevails among the gambling fraternity, 
6* 



132 Mason Long : 

and to which every member must adhere, 
under penalty of losing his popularity and 
standing. This code is based upon a false 
standard, and I couldn't recommend it to so- 
ciety or the world at large, but such as it is, it 
is strictly observed by every man who is recog- 
nized as a genuine sport. It requires the most 
rigid adherence to one's word in every instance. 
All a gambler has to rely upon is his word, and 
when he becomes known as a liar or a betrayer 
of confidence, he is regarded, not as a gambler, 
but as a common thief. Wherever he may go, 
he will find that his reputation has preceded 
him. He is a "marked man" and will obtain 
no recognition or confidence at the hands of 
professionals. I <jan truthfully say, after all 
my experience among this class of people, that 
I would as readily take the word of a regular 
sporting man on a business transaction as that 
of any person in the community. I know men 
in this business who stand so well that they 
receive a salary of twenty to forty dollars per 
day, and are trusted with the possession of 
many thousands of dollars. 

The gambler looks upon his occupation as 
perfectly legitimate, and believes it is con- 
ducted as honorably as are most branches of 
business which the law recognizes. There is 
some truth in this theory. I believe there is as 
much gambling done in our boards of trade and 



Converted (rambler. 133 

produce exchanges as at faro banks and poker 
rooms, and I fail to see the distinction between 
betting on the price of corn or on the turn of a 
card. That one is wrong, does not, however, 
excuse the other. I believe that neither is 
right, and that Christian people should con- 
demn them both. 

Gamblers regard it as perfectly legitimate to 
take advantage of each other at play in any pos- 
sible way, unless it involves a betrayal of confi- 
dence. This is held to-be a part of the trade, 
and the sports believe that no man has any 
business to play unless he has mastered his 
trade. This is the work of a lifetime, and the 
veterans in the craft not infrequently find 
themselves beaten by schemes and devices 
which are intended for amateurs. This being 
the case, it can readily be seen that the busi- 
ness man, or the occasional player, has a poor 
chance to win in the majority of games. If I 
were to advise this class of men to play at all, 
I would say : Enter some game with the most 
thorough and skillful gamblers — men who know 
enough to protect themselves — and the chances 
are that the game will be on the square, and 
that you will stand an even chance of winning, 
if you use the necessary amount of judgment. 
There are plenty of such games played, but the 
difficulty for amateurs is to know where they 
are to be found. 



134 Mason Long : 

I have, I think, done full justice to the char- 
acter of the true sporting man. I have given 
due weight to the good qualities by which he 
is usually characterized, and which are not 
properly appreciated by the world at large. 
The reason for this is, that there are many men 
who claim to be sports when they have no right 
to the appellation. 

The public classes gamblers in the same cate- 
gory as thieves and murderers, principally 
because so many of the riff-raff and scum of 
humanity advertise themselves as sporting men. 
They do this mainly in order to shield them- 
selves from the penalties of the law, which 
would otherwise be visited upon them ; and by 
their actions they compel gamblers to bear a 
greater weight of odium than is their due. 
These fellows, in many instances, have started 
out as gamblers, but by reason of their dishon- 
esty, falsehood, and betrayals of confidence, 
have been dropped from the ranks, and be- 
come ordinary thieves and loafers. They hang 
around gambling rooms as much as possible, 
and are always ready to do any thing low or 
mean. They rarely have money enough to sit 
in a gambler's game, and when they do are 
easily beaten. They give their word when they 
know they can not keep it good ; they " rope in " 
business men and strangers, and for a small 
sum profess to give them "points," which fre- 



Converted Gambler. 135 

quently makes them suspicious, and drives 
them from the room. They finally become 
" crabbers," that is, men who steal a stake 
from the table when the owner's back is turned, 
and who would not hesitate to pick a pocket, 
or to commit any crime whatever. These fel- 
lows claim to be gamblers, and are so classed 
by the press and the public, and the genuine 
sports are held responsible for their shortcom- 
ings. Truth compels me to say that there are 
a hundred of this class of men in the country 
where there are ten true sports ; that the pro- 
portion is increasing every year, and that the 
business of gambling is becoming more and 
more degraded, and rapidly being shorn of its 
few redeeming features. These thieves are 
ruining the sport at horse races, as well as at 
the gaming rooms, and through their conduct 
the sporting profession is becoming more dis- 
reputable than ever. 

Probably few of my readers have any idea 
how many business men are addicted to gam- 
bling. The heads of large mercantile houses, 
the jobber, the merchant, the importer, and the 
banker, as well as the small tradesman, and the 
employe, are frequently to be found sitting 
around the gaming table. Gamblers use their 
utmost efforts to secure visits from this class of 
men ; for sports realize that they can not earn a 
living from each other, but that they must draw 



136 3£ason Long : 

from producers, and those who amass money 
by legitimate means. It is scarcely necessary 
to say that, with hardly an exception, the busi- 
ness man gets the worst of it, in " bucking the 
tiger." I can truthfully say that in all my 
experience, I never have known one of this 
class who was not worse off, by reason of play- 
ing, while I have known scores of them to be 
ruined financially, morally, and physically, by an 
indulgence of their gambling propensities. It 
is obvious that such should be the case. When 
men who devote their whole time and atten- 
tion to sporting, can not master its details, how 
can the man do so who plays in his leisure 
hours for amusement? It is singular to me 
that men of fine business capacity, sound judg- 
ment, good common sense, high social stand- 
ing, and frequently, I regret to say, of religious 
professions, will allow themselves to be so 
deeply fascinated by the allurements of the 
card table, that they will sacrifice time, money, 
health, position, character, everything, to its 
never-ceasing demands. 

I can look back to the year 1865, and recall 
many men who were then in prosperous circum- 
stances, doing a lucrative business, occupying 
a fine social position, who have since gone to 
their ruin, by reason of gambling. Many once 
happy and comfortable families have been 
reduced to want and beggary, because he who 



Converted G ambler. 137 

should have made provision for them, has sac- 
rificed their future welfare, as well as his own 
position and prospects, to his insane and sense- 
less passion for the card table. 

The business man who seeks the gaming 
room for recreation, often falls into the hands 
of the class of thieves to whom I have referred, 
and who undertake to post him for a " consid- 
eration." After a course of instruction the 
amateur imagines that he knows all the mys- 
teries of faro and poker ; but a few heavy los- 
ings convince him to the contrary. He 
attempts to recover what he has sacrificed, and 
in so doing he loses what he has left. He is 
speedily reduced from affluence to poverty, and 
from poverty to absolute want and beggary. In 
the meantime, he has neglected his business, 
lost his trade, allowed his notes to be protested, 
his creditors have closed him up, his name 
figures in the bankruptcy lists, and his friends 
ascribe his failure to " hard times" and " scar- 
city of money." Reduced to this point, he 
hovers around the place which has proved his 
ruin, and vainly endeavors to retrieve his for- 
tune, where he has wasted it. His late hours, 
evil associates, and reverses, lead him to drink- 
ing. He descends the ladder, step by step, 
loses the friends of former years, becomes an 
outcast^ and a vagrant, and finally dies a 
drunkard, and fills a pauper's grave. 



138 Mason Long : 

This is no fancy sketch ; I have known many 
such cases as the above, and they are more 
numerous than the public imagines. I believe 
more business failures result from gambling, 
than from any other one cause, and I hold that 
the business man who plays, expecting to win 
in the long run, is an idiot who should be sent 
to an asylum. The experiences of those who 
have trod this path, and observation of the sad 
examples all about him, arising from play, not 
to speak of the dictates of good common sense, 
should teach him that gambling can result in 
nothing but loss and disappointment and ulti- 
mately, if persisted in, complete and irretriev- 
able ruin. 

But if it is folly for a business or professional 
man to gamble, it is equally so for any person 
to adopt sporting as a means of gaining a liveli- 
hood. The life of a gambler is a hard one. I 
know it has a kind of fascination for thought- 
less and reckless young men who desire to live 
without work, to enjoy a career of " pleasure," 
and to "see the world," but they will find in 
due time that there is no genuine pleasure con- 
nected with a sporting life. 

The gambler is really a hard worker. He 

v lives in defiance, not only of human, but also of 

divine laws. He violates, in his daily life, the 

precepts of nature, which all mankind should 

f&jow. He reverses the established order and 



Converted Gambler. 139 

turns his nights into days, and his days into 
nights. When more favored men are passing the 
evenings at their happy homes with their wives 
and little ones, or in social pleasures or literary 
pursuits, the gambler sits in his heated room, un- 
der the blazing gas jet, breathing a foul and pol- 
luted atmosphere, hearing occasionally a ribald 
jest or a blasphemous expression, his nerves 
strained to their utmost tension, despite the 
unchanging expression of his countenance, and 
his whole nature, moral, mental, and physical, 
tainted by his evil surroundings. And after 
the world has gone to rest, and tired humanity 
is seeking " nature's sweet restorer, sleep," the 
gambler is still at his table, dealing his cards 
with the steady monotony of a machine, his 
head throbbing, his eyelids heavy, his body fe- 
verish, his strength exhausted. And at last, 
when the first streaks of dawn are seen upon the 
eastern horizon, and the pale, dim light of early 
morning heralds the approach of clay, he goes 
to his couch and seeks rest at a time when all 
about him are awakening from their slumbers. 
Call you this pleasure ? I call it hardship and 
miseiy. I solemnly affirm that in all the years 
of my sporting life, I never enjo} r ed one mo- 
ment of real, genuine happiness. I would not 
exchange one hour of my existence since my 
conversion, for all the years of my sinful life. 
The gambler varies the monotony of his life 



140 Mason Long : 

with riotous excesses and extravagant indul- 
gence. His amusements, like his business, are 
degrading morally and injurious physically. 
His varying fortunes render his life a feverish 
and unsatisfactory one. He is ostracized from 
society, debarred from the enjoyments of do- 
mestic pleasures, and incapacitated for literary 
entertainment. He wears out his existence in 
a few years, undermines his constitution by ex- 
posure and dissipation, is shabbily treated by 
the goddess of fortune whom he has wooed so 
long, and dies a pauper in the prime of life. But 
one gambler in a hundred lives to old age ; and 
not one in a hundred dies the possessor of any 
property. The career which to many looks 
so inviting, ends at last in shame and penury, 
and the "man of pleasure," falsely so called, 
is only a creature of misery and sorrow. 

Where are the gamblers who flourished ten 
or twelve years ago, during the flush times? I 
can recall the names of many who, since that 
time, have gone over the precipice, dying 
in beggary,-without a thought or hope for the 
future. Kind-hearted, genial, whole-souled 
Tim McCarthy, the champion billiardist of In- 
diana, won thousands of dollars at his 
keno bank, and other games, and squandered 
it all in dissipation, and after a few years of 
reckless drinking, stood up before a mirror in 
a Chicago saloon, and in a fit of despair blew 



Converted Gambler. 141 

out his brains. Billy Grunauer, ten years ago, 
was the leading sporting man of Northern In- 
diana. He dressed in the extreme of fashion, 
wore the costliest clothing, and the rarest dia- 
monds, smoked imported cigars, drank the 
most expensive wines, and drove a thousand 
dollar team. But this could not last, and poor 
Billy was borne to his grave a few months ago 
from the St. Joseph's hospital, where he had 
been suffering from a hopeless disease for 
months. 

For several years before his death he had 
been a sorrowful object in our midst ; broken 
in health, downcast in spirits, and without a 
penny out of all the thousands he had won at 
gaming, he saw his end rapidly approaching 
without any care for his future state, or any hope 
of happiness beyond the grave. The last time he 
was on the streets he took dinner with me, and 
I asked him u if he ever thought of his eternal 
state ? " 

"Yes," said he, "I guess they will come 
three-a-side over there; I have tried it here a 
long time, but it won't work." 

He referred, in this expression, to his favorite 
system of playing the bank. In a few days he 
died, and but for the kindness of relatives his 
burial would have been that of a pauper. 

I could name many other men who have been 
regarded as prosperous and successful gamblers, 



142 Mason Long : 

who died penniless and friendless. Captain 
Phillips, of Toledo, who played poker for thirty 
years, and whose winnings on the game aggre- 
gated a vast sum, died in Lima, Ohio, without 
enough to bury him. Joe Bean, of Toledo, the 
prize lighter and gambler, died in early manhood 
under similar circumstances, and I might enu- 
merate such instances indefinitely. I have 
never known a sporting man to die rich, and 
the most of them have passed away without 
leaving enough assets to pay their funeral 
expenses. Even John Morrissey, who handled 
millions of dollars, and conducted the largest 
games in the world, died insolvent; and when 
he failed who can hope to succeed ? 

It does not pay to he a gambler. The life is a 
hard one, but the death is still harder. The 
years of the gambler are few, and they are not 
happy ones. I can conceive of no inducement 
for a man to enter this occupation. Sporting 
men are drones ; what the world wants is 
workers. There are too many men who want 
to live without labor. Gaming no longer offers 
the attractions that it once did. There is less 
money in the country than there was ten years 
ago, but the ranks of the gamblers are over- 
crowded. The most of them can not make a 
living unless they steal, and hence it is that 
the fraternity is becoming more corrupt and 
degraded every year. The times have changed, 



Converted Gambler. 143 

and we must change with them. The man who 
seeks to live off the earnings of others is an 
enemy to society and must be treated as such. 
I earnestly advise every sporting man who reads 
these pages, to give up his nefarious business, 
pull up his sleeves and go to work as I have 
done. It is no disgrace to work ; it is credita- 
ble and honorable. If they don't do so, the State 
will finally take steps to compel them; it is 
only a question of time. The large number of 
sporting men now in the country are a burden to 
society, which will and must be thrown off. I 
speak these words frankly and soberly, but in 
all kindness. I realize, as I never did before, 
the sinfulness of this vice, and the wrong which 
a man does himself, his fellow man, and his 
God by wasting his existence in its practice. 
I can see that its inevitable end is a miserable 
death* amidst poverty and despair, and a future 
of suffering and remorse. I shudder when I 
think of the fate I have so narrowly escaped. 
I would that my words could reach every sport- 
ing man in America, and that they could be 
led to comprehend the folly, wickedness, and 
unprofitableness of the careers they are leading. 



144 Mason Long, 



CHAPTER VIII. 

HOW I BECAME A CONVERT TO THE MURPHY CAUSE - SIGN- 
ING THE PLEDGE — STRUGGLES WITH THE DEMON AL- 
COHOL — FINAL TRIUMPH OVER THE RUM DEVIL. 

In the latter part of July, 1877, I arrived 
home, after a tour of the races, in a de- 
plorable condition. I had lost all of my money 
and was suffering from the effects of a pro- 
longed spree. My personal debts amounted to 
at least fifteen hundred dollars, and I had no 
means of paying any portion of them. Upon my 
return I found my game had run down very 
badly, and the outlook was certainly a discour- 
aging one. The "boys" failed to visit my 
room as was their wont, and when I inquired 
the reason, they replied, "O, we go to the Rink 
every evening; all the fun is over there now." 
I knew there was a temperance movement in 
progress in Fort Wayne, but had not realized 
what proportions it had assumed. Night after 
night my rooms were deserted and it was impos- 
sible to get up a game. Finally I concluded 
to attend one of the meetings, partly to gratify 
some of my old associates, but principally from 
curiosity. The Rink holds sixteen hundred 



Converted Gambler. 145 

people, and when I entered it, I found, greatly 
to my surprise, that it was crowded to its ut- 
most capacity. I remained until the close of 
the meeting and in spite of myself was greatly 
interested in the proceedings. At the conclu- 
sion of the exercises I returned to my room in 
a thoughtful mood. I found a few " regulars " 
gathered there. I said, "It's no wonder that 
we have no game any more, every body is at 
the Rink. If this thing keeps on I don't know 
what will become of us." "Neither do I," 
spoke up a saloon keeper, who seemed greatly 
depressed at the outlook. "I am not doing 
one third of the business I did a year ago. If 
the Murphys don't stop pretty soon, I for one 
shall be ruined." 

I thought seriously over the situation and 
finally caine to the conclusion that perhaps the 
movement would help the gambling business. 
I reasoned that if men stopped drinking they 
would have more money to gamble with, al- 
though the experience I was having with my 
game did not sustain the argument. I failed 
then to realize that the two vices go together, 
and lead to one another ; that the gambler is 
almost invariably a drinker, and the drinker very 
frequently a gambler. A man who is addicted 
to drinking is almost certain to get to playing, 
and he who gambles will, sooner or later, be- 
come a drunkard. 



146 Mason Long : 

The next evening my room was again empty, 
and impelled by some power I did not compre- 
hend, but could not resist, I again joined the 
crowd and wended my way to the " Old Ark " 
as the Rink was called. I found another large 
meeting in progress, although this was the 
fifth week of the series. The greatest enthu- 
siasm prevailed, and almost everybody in the 
house looked cheerful and happy. The gentle- 
man who conducted the meeting spoke in a 
very encouraging strain, of the results. "Dur- 
ing the past week," he said, "twelve hundred 
persons have signed the pledge and donned the 
blue ribbon, making thirty-five hundred sign- 
ers in all since we began our campaign." This 
opened my eyes still wider, and again I found 
myself inquiring, " What will the result be." 

Every night my room was empty and my 
game closed, and I drifted into the meetings at 
the Rink. The movement was being conducted 
by Rusk and Reddick, two energetic young 
workers from Pittsburgh, and they had already 
been the agents, under God, of reclaiming many 
of the most dissipated men in the city from 
lives of intemperance and debauchery. My 
frequent attendance upon the meetings had 
attracted much attention, and my motives 
were generally discussed among the temper- 
ance people. One night Mr. Rusk addressed 
me, saying : 



Converted (rambler. 147 

" I want you to sign the pledge." To say- 
that I was amazed, but feebly describes my 
feelings — I was dumbfounded. I looked at him 
closely, for I had a curiosity to see any man 
who had the effrontery to ask me to sign a tem- 
perance pledge. I made fun of him, and re- 
marked that if the government had sent me 
out after pirates I would have " tackled him 
the first man." He laughed, taking my abuse 
in the best of humor. Finally he asked my 
business. 

" Business ? Well, you just make your col- 
lection and go with me to my room, and if I 
can beat aces up for you — you'll know what my 
business is." 

At this Mr. Rusk smiled, and said "I've 
been there, my boy. I've gambled and know all 
about it, as well as many other vices. If you 
don't give it up you'll find out in the long run 
that there is no money in it." 

I laughed and continued to chaff him, when 
he left me, saying, " I'll see you again." He 
did see me again ; every time I met him he 
chatted with me in a pleasant, good-natured 
way, and I soon learned to like him. Finally I 
invited him to my rooms, and he accepted. He 
found them gorgeously furnished, with hand- 
some Brussels carpet, elegant sideboards, and 
all of the appurtenances of a first-class " gam- 
bling hell." Mr. Rusk did not play with me, 
7 



148 Mason Long : 

but he evidently understood the business, and 
used his knowledge to good advantage in his 
argument with me, He asked me if I would 
not be a much more successful gambler if I did 
not drink, and if I had not lost hundreds, perhaps 
thousands, of dollars because of my fondness 
for liquor. Of course I had, and I frankly ad- 
mitted it ; I had just returned from a prolonged 
spree, having wasted large winnings in drink. 
I related a number of my experiences, and Mr. 
Rust said his had been similar, although on a 
smaller scale. We both agreed that if I were 
to stop drinking I would prosper and make 
plenty of money. 

It was evident that Mr. Rusk understood my 
case perfectly. He did not try to force me to 
sign the pledge against my will, but he contin- 
ued to meet me every day and exchange a few 
words with me. He frequently referred to the 
mistakes of his past life, all of which had a per- 
sonal application I could not fail to make. I 
told him " his life had been something like mine, 
but that I had drifted farther out into the cur- 
rent than he, and that it would be useless for 
me to sign the pledge, because it would be im- 
possible for me to keep it." I added that "to 
take the pledge and then dishonor it would be 
ten times worse than never to sign it at all." 
He agreed with me in this, and said he could 
not respect a man who " signed for fun," not 



Converted Gambler. 149 

intending to keep his word ; he was sure, how- 
ever, I could take the pledge and keep it, and 
he urged me to come forward at the next meet- 
ing, take a bold stand, and don the blue ribbon ; 
he had no doubt that I would honor the pledge 
if I signed it. Again I refused ; I told him that I 
would not attempt an impossibility ; I couldn't 
stop drinking, and wouldn't try. He left me, 
for the first time appearing discouraged. The 
next meeting, however, found me present, as 
usual. I went with a friend of mine, Mr. 
Charles Reed, a young man whom I respected for 
his good habits; although he never drank or 
gambled, he had joined the " Murphies," and 
urged me to do likewise. I told him as I told 
Mr. Rusk, that it was no use, I could not give 
up drink. That evening the signers came thick 
and fast, and the enthusiasm was unbounded. 
After the exercises were over, we remained 
while the noble workers solicited signatures, 
and urged the poor inebriates to emancipate 
themselves from their slavery. For some rea- 
son I couldn't leave, and soon I found myself 
surrounded by a bevy of ladies. This was evi- 
dently a piece of strategy on the part of Mr. 
Reed, for I noticed him standing at a distance, 
greatly amused at my predicament. The ladies 
made a combined assault upon me, and insisted 
upon my signing the pledge. I repeated to 
them what I had said to so many others, that I 



150 Mason Long! 

could not keep it ; one of them said I must 
sign it if I had to stay all night ; I told her that if 
I did as she asked I would certainly dishonor the 
pledge, and that I was determined not to do. 
Meanwhile the crowd about me was getting 
larger all the time, and I noticed I was becom- 
ing the cynosure of all eyes. My situation was 
novel and embarrassing, and I began to think 
of some method of escape. I had seen three 
years of hard service in the army, and had been 
through many battles, but this seemed to me 
the most trying engagement of my life. I had 
determined not to surrender, but to beat a mas- 
terly retreat, and inwardly resolved that if I 
ever got out of the Rink I would never enter it 
again until the meetings commenced. But the 
ladies had resolved to capture me for the Mur- 
phy army, and would not take " no " for an an- 
swer; they entreated me to embrace the good 
cause, and plied me with arguments which were 
well nigh irresistible. My position w r as becom- 
ing momentarily more desperate, and as a final 
resource, I said: " Ladies, let me go to-night, 
and I promise by all that is good and holy that 
I will come back to-morrow night and sign the 
pjedge, and I will live up to it." But the 
ladies didn't believe me, and really they had 
no reason to ; I had no intention of keeping my 
promise, my only idea being to get out of the 
Rink ; my firm determination was never to at- 



Converted Gambler. 151 

tend another Murphy meeting. The ladies 
didn't want to take my promise, but a little 
lady who was in the group spoke up and said, 
in her childish way, " Let him go, Mamma, he 
is speaking the truth ; he will come back to- 
morrow night and sign the pledge. You will, 
won't you?" added the little one, appealing 
to me. " Of course I will," said I, seeing at 
last a chance of escape. The girl's simple faith 
in my word outweighed the doubts of the ladies, 
and they opened a way for me to pass out. I 
left the Rink with a settled purpose never to 
visit it again while the meetings continued. 

I hastened to my room, thinking over the 
incidents of the evening and congratulating 
myself upon my fortunate escape. Thoughts 
of the little girl who had rescued me, came to 
my mind. I asked myself, "Why did* she 
believe me, when in fact I was telling a lie." 
I tried to forget the evening's experience, but 
I could not do so. I endeavored to divert my 
mind by a game of poker, but I was abstracted 
and careless, and in a few moments had lost 
forty dollars. I arose and walked restlessly 
about the room. The angel face of that child 
was ever before my eyes, and her words were 
constantly sounding in my ears : — " He is telling 
the truth, Mamma. You will come back, won't 
you, and sign the pledge ? " 

I put on my hat, left my room, and sought a 



152 Mason Long : 

saloon, where I tried to solace myself with bil- 
liards. The attempt was a failure ; I could not 
fix my attention on the game. I laid down my 
cue and walked out into the street ; I could not 
by any artifice withdraw my thoughts from the 
one subject which burdened them, nor shut out 
the sound of the little lady's simple words. 
Slowly I walked toward my rooms, vainly 
struggling to compose my mind. When I 
arrived at the club room, the game was over 
and the room deserted. I entered my chamber, 
adjoining the gambling hall, and prepared for 
bed. I laid down, but sleep did not come to 
my eyelids. I tossed about feverishly, strug- 
gling to overcome my restlessness, but without 
result. I attempted to argue with myself, but 
the effort was in vain. I arose from my bed 
and IKed to relieve the strain upon my mind 
by reading. It was of no avail. I read all the 
newspapers in the room, but did not compre- 
hend one word in them. When I laid them 
down I did not remember any thing they con- 
tained. Again I sought my bed, but my men- 
tal unrest continued. I rolled about in my 
agony, but no peace came to me. The hours 
dragged wearily along, and one subject con- 
tinued uppermost in my mind. I gave up the 
effort to banish it. Morning at last came, and 
I rejoiced over the termination of the longest 
night I had ever passed. But daylight brought 



Converted Gambler. 153 

no calm to my troubled brain. It was still in 
a chaotic state, and the same words were ever 
present : " You will come back to-morrow night 
and sign the pledge, won't you ? " 

I went to my hotel, but scarcely tasted break- 
fast. Then I wandered aimlessly about the 
streets, and found the day I had so longed for 
to be even more dismal than the dreary night 
whose minutes had seemed hours. My condi- 
tion was, in brief, one of mental torture, and I 
felt as though if relief did not soon come, I 
should go crazy. That night I involuntarily 
sought the Rink, arriving there almost as soon 
as it was lighted up. I was among the first 
arrivals, and upon meeting Mr. Rusk, I told 
him I would sign the pledge at once if he would 
assure me that the newspapers would say 
nothing about it. The press had, for many 
years, devoted a great deal of attention to me, 
and I feared that, if the city journals should 
publish me as a Murphy convert, I would 
become a butt for the ridicule of all the sports 
and bummers in the city. I was among the 
first that evening to step forward and sign the 
pledge. As I affixed my name, the old building 
fairly shook with the cheers of sixteen hundred 
people. In a moment I was surrounded by a 
host of ladies and gentlemen who shook me 
warmly by the hand, and congratulated me 
eartily upon the step I had taken. Many spoke 



154 Mason Long . 

to me, who had never before exchanged a word 
with me, but who had always regarded me as 
the concentrated essence of wickedness. 

As soon as I had signed the pledge I felt 
relieved. A great weight seemed to be lifted 
from my soul, and I left for my rooms after the 
meeting in a much happier frame of mind than 
on the preceding evening. 

The only thing I dreaded was newspaper 
publicity. -The journals of the city had devoted 
many columns to me in connection with gam- 
bling, horse racing,. and arrests for various mis- 
demeanors, and I disliked to have my name 
published in connection with any thing so good 
and holy as the temperance cause. But I called 
to mind Mr. Rusk's assurance on this score, 
and retired without any misgivings. The next 
morning, upon arising, I picked up the Gazette 
and discovered to my amazement a column 
report of my surrender to the Murphys. At 
this I was greatly disgusted, and I at once 
decided to go and get drunk. I left the room 
with that intention, but I soon began to think 
of the many good people who had taken me so 
warmly by the hand the night before, and bade 
me God speed. What would they think of me, 
should I thus deliberately and openly violate 
my solemn pledge ? This was something strange 
for me, for I had never before cared for the 
opinion of the sober, and temperate, and reli- 



Converted G-ambler. 155 

gious community. I passed along the streets, 
and the first persons I met were saloon keepers. 
They refused to speak to me, and I admit that 
I felt the slight. But by this time I was set- 
tled in my purpose to stick to the pledge. 

My old companions enjoyed themselves great- 
ly at my expense, and they subjected me to all 
kinds of ridicule. Many bets were made upon 
the length of time I would abstain from drink- 
ing, the limits ranging from six hours to ten 
days. One saloon keeper predicted that I 
would hold out three weeks, and no longer. 
He said that he had gauged my stomach, and 
that at the end of three weeks on cold water 
diet I would be ripe for a big drunk. An 
attempt was made to sell pools on me, but no 
one would bet on my " sticking " more than 
three weeks. I could have won every dollar 
owned by the Fort Wayne sports ; but I admit 
that I had so little confidence in myself that I 
would not have bet on thirty days' adherence 
to the Murphys. My associations were all 
with saloon keepers and gamblers. One of the 
former promised that if I kept the pledge one 
year, he would buy me a hat. The year is now 
nearly expired, and before this book is read I 
will be wearing a new hat at Jay Phillips' 
expense. 

For the first few days I found my new life a 
hard one. I spent much of my time in saloons, 

«7* 



156 Mason Long : 

playing cards for the drinks. When my 
companions took beer, I took a cigar ; but the 
sight of the cool, foaming beverage which I 
loved so well, was a severe temptation, espe- 
cially during those sultry days in August. Many 
times I found the pressure very strong, and was 
on the point of surrendering, but something 
within kept me on the track, and a still, small 
voice said to me, " Stick to it, Mace." 

I soon came to the conclusion that if I 
remained in Fort Wayne, whisky would con- 
quer. I could not in safety frequent my old 
places of resort, and therefore determined to 
attend the races at Geneseo, 111., and at the 
same time visit some relatives living there, who 
are temperance and religious people. They 
were overjoyed to learn of the step I had taken, 
and gave me a hearty welcome. I remained at 
Geneseo ten days, during which time scarcely 
any temptation was thrown in my path. But I 
felt the old appetite tugging away at me, and 
the ungratified longing for liquor caused me 
much physical and mental distress. From 
Geneseo I went to Chicago, and there I met a 
number of my old companions, who were start- 
ing out to " make a night of it." Of course 
they insisted that I must go with them, and I 
consented to join the party. I knew I was 
taking a fearful risk, but I could not resist the 
invitation of my former chums. Few of my 



Converted Gambler. 157 

readers, perhaps, know what " making a night 
of it " in Chicago is. The term conveys a good 
deal. It means a night of dissipation and 
indulgence ; it means hours spent in the heated 
atmosphere of the gilded palaces of vice, or 
the luxuriant abodes of sin ; it means a 
gratification of the grossest appetites, and an 
indulgence in the bas'est pleasures ; it means 
the robbing of sleep, the sacrifice of time, the 
waste of money, the injury to health, and the 
surrender of good name. " Making a night of 
it " has shattered some of the greatest intel- 
lects the world has ever known ; has blighted 
the most promising careers ; has wasted the 
most ample fortunes ; has destroyed the happi- 
ness of the most affectionate families, and led 
to misery, and shame, and death, and eternal 
woe. There are thousands of young men who 
think it is manly to "make a night of it," bub 
could they draw the lesson from the shattered 
remnants of manhood all over the land, could 
they see the depths of shame and remorse into 
which the devotee of the wine cup is finally 
plunged, could they know the misery caused 
by the fearful, insatiable craving for alcohol, 
could they hear the lamentations of the lost 
souls, sacrificed through the infernal love for 
spirits, not all the lights, and songs, and music, 
and good fellowship which surround vice with so 
many attractions, could lure them from the only 



158 Mason Long : 

path which leads to happiness, both in this 
world and in the world to come. 

Well, we made a " night of it " in Chicago. I 
stayed with the "boys" until they reeled to 
their beds in drunken unconsciousness. I had 
not violated my pledge, having alternated 
between cigars and lemonade. At every 
"treat" I had taken one or the other; I had 
smoked several cigars, and given a number 
away, but when I reached my room I found 
that I had fifty-seven in my pocket. This will 
give the reader an idea of the liquor we drank, 
and the sum of money we squandered when 
we "made a night of it" in Chicago. 

I was greatly pleased to think I had passed 
through this ordeal without breaking my pledge, 
and concluded that I was safe for the future. 
The next morning I avoided my associates of 
the previous night, for I found it no amusement 
to be with them unless I drank, and that I was 
determined not to do. I bought a few pools on 
the base ball games, lost as usual, and then 
started for Fort Wayne. Upon my return, I 
was besieged with questions, the most frequent 
one being, " Well, Mace, how many times were 
you drunk while you were gone ?" Few were 
ready to believe me when I said that I had not 
tasted a drop since I left home. Some, how- 
ever, cheered me with expressions of confidence, 
which encouraged me greatly ; others — mostly 



Converted Gambler. 15$ 

gamblers and saloon keepers — asserted .that I 
was playing a deep confidence game, my inten- 
tions being to worm myself into the confidence 
of the religious people of the city, and then 
borrow all the money I could and swindle them 
out of it. A gambler, who had for years been 
my " partner," made a charge of this kind quite 
publicly, and was rebuked by one of the Mur- 
phy leaders, who said, " I would lend Mace 
Long two hundred dollars for a year, without 
security, but I wouldn't lend you ten cents." 
This gentleman had never spoken to me, 
and when I heard of his kind expression I was 
greatly encouraged. The good people of the 
city aided me by many tokens of confidence 
and expressions of faith in my sincerity. Each 
day I found my resolutions stronger. I was 
still keeping a gambling room, and had as yet 
no higher ambition than to abstain from drink- 
ing, so as to make money at my illegitimate 
business. How I came to abandon my old call- 
ing and leave the paths I had so long trod for 
pleasanter and purer ones, I shall endeavor to 
tell in the next chapter. 



160 Mason Long , 



CHAPTER IX. 

MY CONVERSION'TO THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST -MEN- 
TAL SUFFERINGS WHILE UNDER CONVICTION —PUBLIC 
CONFESSION OF MY SINS— THE BLESSINGS ATTENDING 
A CHANGE OF HEART. 

Upon returning to Fort Wayne, I found that 
the temperance meetings, which were still in 
progress at the Rink, had a stronger attraction 
than ever for me. I discovered that the fasci- 
nations of the gambling table were losing their 
power, and I could take no interest in the games 
at my room. On the first night I went to the 
Rink, and the managers insisted that I should 
address the meeting ; about fifteen hundred 
people were present, and the ordeal was a most 
trying one. I pleaded ray " freshness," and 
had no idea that I could face that vast crowd 
without breaking down. But they kept calling 
for me, and I finally rose in my place and 
stated that I was unprepared to speak, but 
would make a few remarks upon some other 
occasion. Mr. Rusk then took the liberty of 
announcing that I would speak on the next 
evening, and at the same time stated that the 
number of signers had just reached six thousand. 



Converted Gambler. 161 

This created much enthusiasm, and there was 
more signing and singing. I concluded not to 
attend the next evening, but was very lone- 
some, and my resolution failed me. I remained 
at my room until nine o'clock, but then almost 
involuntarily sought the u Old Ark." Hardly 
had I entered its portals when I heard my name 
shouted from all parts of the house, and in a 
moment I found myself standing upon the 
platform, with fifteen hundred upturned faces 
before me, and fifteen hundred pairs of eyes 
gazing intently upon me. I shook like an aspen 
leaf; my head fairly swam ; a cold perspiration 
burst out all over me, and I could scarcely 
control my voice. I certainly suffered all the 
tortures of stage fright, and passed through an 
experience I never desire to repeat. But my 
self-possession soon returned, and after I. had 
spoken a few words I was comparatively at 
ease. I told them, first of all, that I had been 
faithful to my pledge, taken several weeks 
before, and that I intended to adhere to it 
through life. I also related how I began 
drinking whisky ; and how it had led me down 
from one depth to another, drawing me into 
other vices, until I had become a moral wreck, 
the mere plaything of a diabolical appetite. 
The next day my speech was printed in full in 
the papers. The press took more interest in 
me than ever, and chronicled my every move- 



162 Mason Long t 

ment. I knew that, under the circumstances, 
if I took a single misstep, it would be heralded 
to the world, and this made me more careful, 
perhaps, than I otherwise would have been, to 
adhere to my promises. 

Having broken the ice, I spoke at the meet- 
ings nearly every night. I entered into the 
work with enthusiasm, and endeavored to gain 
recruits, for the Murphy army. On the first 
afternoon I secured sixteen signers, among 
them a veteran whisky seller and whisky 
drinker, Mr. Arthur Dodge. I was greatly 
encouraged with my success. Mr. Dodge took 
hold of the work with much energy, and we 
canvassed together, inducing many old slaves 
of alcohol to don the blue ribbon, and emanci- 
pate themselves from the curse under which 
they had so long staggered. 

For six weeks we labored night and day, 
with unvarying success. Then Messrs. Rusk 
and Reddick left us, and the whisky sellers 
concluded that the storm was about over, and 
that the meetings would soon "fizzle out." 
But we did not allow them to " fizzle." For 
four weeks we carried them on ourselves. 
Every man who took an interest in the cause 
came to the front, and we kept the enthusiasm 
constantly up to the boiling point. Our army 
was constantly increasing, and it looked as if 
we were to capture the entire city. 



Converted G-ambler. 165 

At this stage of the movement, Messrs. Hal- 
lenbeck and Cassedy, who had been converted 
during the Moody-Sankey revival at Chicago, 
came among us, and took charge of the meet- 
ings, conducting them on the gospel temperance 
plan. Up to this date the Murphy movement 
had been carried on as a purely moral effort; 
now the religious element was with it, and the 
effect was good. The churches, many of which 
had held aloof, joined in with us. Hallenbeck and 
Cassedy remained five weeks, and were the 
means of accomplishing a vast amount of good. 
After their departure the meetings continued 
as usual, under the management of a board 
consisting of several of our best citizens. The 
Hon. Newton Bur well, a worthy Christian gen- 
tleman who has since entered the ministry, took 
the leadership. 

Among the reformed men were a few who 
objected to the religious cast the movement 
had assumed. They organized a " Reformed 
Men's Club," and took control of the meetings, 
Mr. Bur well and the ministers retiring, but still 
giving the "boys" their sympathy and co- 
operation. An arrangement was then made by 
which strictly temperance meetings were held 
during the week, and a grand union prayer 
meeting every Sunday night. The interest 
deepened. Those who attended the Murphy 
meetings were sure to find their way to the 



166 Mason Long : 

" Old Ark " on Sunday nights. By this means 
hundreds were brought within reach of the 
gospel, who had not heard it preached for years. 
A deep feeling pervaded the community. A 
great change was taking place in many of our 
reformed men. 

They were beginning to inquire anxiously, 
" What shall we do to be saved? " They were 
thinking deeply of their future state, many of 
them for the first time, and recalling the les- 
sons of childhood they had neglected for so 
many years. The long -forgotten Bible was 
hunted up, and its precious words were studied 
by men who had long been strangers to them ; 
some who had objected most strenuously to the 
gospel work, now urged the propriety of a 
monster revival. We, therefore, sent for Dr. 
Earl, of Boston, a most successful evangelist. 
He came and conducted a series of meetings 
for three weeks, with grand results. The Rink 
was crowded every night ; Dr. Earl expounded 
the Scriptures with singular power and elo- 
quence, and led many poor sorrowing mortals 
into the way of salvation. He was assisted by 
the city pastors, and the religious people of 
Fort Wayne, and a most glorious harvest was 
reaped. Scores of converts were made. There 
was a grand awakening throughout the city. 
There was a most gracious outpouring of God's 
spirit, and many wayward hearts found peace 



Converted Gambler. 167 

in believing. As many as one hundred and 
eighty persons rose for prayer in a single meet- 
ing. Some of the most depraved men in the 
city tasted of the Bread of Life, and often 
" those who came to scoff remained to pray." 
This revival terminated the movement proper 
in Fort Wayne. The meetings had been held 
over three hundred consecutive nights, and ten 
thousand and seventeen persons had signed 
the pledge. A very small number of those 
who took the pledge violated it. A grand, noble, 
work had been accomplished ; those who had 
been but a short year before in the gutters, or in 
the jails, their existence a curse to themselves 
and their families, were now " clothed, and in 
their right mind." Employment was obtained for 
them, and they became industrious and esteemed 
members of the community. Their families 
found peace and happiness in homes long aban- 
doned to misery and despair, and thanked God 
that alcohol no longer claimed their protectors 
among its victims. A year ago, many of 
them looked forward only to the penitentiary, 
or the poor house ; now, not a few cherish 
hopes of a happy future, and have their names 
enrolled on the books of the churches, of which 
they are attentive and consistent members. 
They have tasted the ''pleasures" of this 
world, and know that they are all vanity. They 
mourn over their wasted years, and realize 



168 Mason Long .• 

what is charged against them in the book of 
judgment. They are working now to balance 
their accounts for the Last Great Day, and well 
know that the consecration of the remainder 
of their lives to purity and righteousness will 
not atone for the sinfulness and folly of their 
past. I sometimes think that these men, who 
have been redeemed after careers of wicked- 
ness and crime, enjoy the love of God better 
than the old followers of the Cross, who have 
jiever tasted the bitter experience which is sure 
to follow indulgence in the so-called " pleas- 
ures" of this world. Those of us who have 
been saved, as if by fire, and "plucked like 
brands from the burning," should strive to live 
very near to God, for the change is so great, that 
it will require all of our efforts to keep in the 
straight and narrow path, which leads to eter- 
nal bliss. I shudder when I think where I and 
so many others, who had drifted far out into 
the currents of sin, would be now, but for 
the glorious temperance movement which has 
Swept over the land, and snatched us up just 
in time to save us from the abyss toward 
which we were hastening. I can recall the 
names of many poor fellows — my former com- 
panions — who have gone beyond our reach to 
everlasting ruin, without a taste of the blessed 
peace and happiness which have been so gra- 
ciously vouchsafed to me. I feel deeply that 



Converted Gambler. 169 

there is a great field for work among those 
whom the world considers outcasts. I know 
that in every human being, however depraved, 
there is the germ of some good, which may be 
reached and developed by prayer and striving, 
and I have solemnly vowed to consecrate the 
rest of my life to the work of rescuing these 
poor unfortunate creatures from the evil which 
surrounds them. I am endeavoring every day 
to speak the word which shall reveal to some 
wandering soul the light that I have found, and 
so long as God gives me life and strength, I 
shall persevere in my chosen work. I date my 
reformation from the hour I signed the tem- 
perance pledge. Previous to that time, I was 
greatly addicted to profanity, but since then 
an oath has never escaped my lips. I had 
always mingled with the dissipated, the de- 
praved, and the vicious ; but the Murphys 
brought me in contact with another and a 
better class of people. I formed the acquaint- 
ance of noble Christian men and women, who 
were endeavoring to illustrate, by their daily 
lives and conversation, the precepts of their 
blessed Master, and from them, I imbibed new 
conceptions of life, its duties and its realities. 
When I ceased to drink, and to swear, I found 
it comparatively easy to discard my numerous 
other vices one by one. I enjoyed daily a 
visible increase in my self respect. I began to 



170 Mason Long: 

feel as if I were a "man among men." The 
evil habits which had become a part of my 
very being, soon left me, all but gambling. 
That vice had an irresistible fascination for me. 
I loved the game above everything else ; I did 
not think I could ever give it up. Besides, my 
moral faculties were so blunted, that I did not 
think it was wrong to gamble, provided it was 
done "on the square." I thought a man could 
be a professional gambler, and a respectable 
citizen at the same time, but I found out my 
mistake — they are incompatible. 

My nightly attendance at the temperance 
meetings continued. I enjoyed them very 
much — in fact above everything else in the 
world ; I listened to the experiences of the re- 
formed men — frequently related with a remark- 
able simplicity and pathos; I repeatedly found 
myself in tears, as I heard their sad stories of 
sin and suffering ; I often sat in the Rink and 
reflected upon my past life until I was so 
choked with emotion as not to be able to re- 
spond when called upon to speak. 

This feeling was new to me and I could not 
comprehend it. There was a change taking place 
in myself which it puzzled me greatly to under- 
stand. For weeks I was in this condition. My 
only real enjoyment was during the temperance 
meetings. I could find no pleasure at the gam- 
ing-table, and, winner or loser, I always left it 



(Converted Gambler. 171 

in disgust. The reader can realize the altera- 
tion in me when he remembers that for years 
the game of faro had cast a perfect spell over 
me ; that I had repeatedly played it for many 
hours at a time, unable to leave it for food or 
sleep, and only withdrawing when I could no 
longer bear the physical strain. But now the 
temperance meetings drew me from my game 
every evening, and the gambling-room had be- 
come the most repulsive place on earth to me. 

Sunday is always the liveliest day for gam- 
blers, for it is then they do their best business. 
It was so with me, but since my moral awaken- 
ing I found Sunday the longest and dullest day 
of the week. One Sunday morning I resolved 
to attend divine service, and found my way to 
the First Baptist church. The sight of a 
notorious professional gambler in that sacred 
place startled the congregation, and every eye 
was turned upon me as the usher showed me to 
a seat. The pastor, Rev. Dr. J. R. Stone, 
preached a most beautiful and effective sermon, 
which seemed intended especially for me. I 
eagerly drank in every word, and as the good man 
continued, I found myself shedding tears of sor- 
row and remorse for my misspent life. After the 
sermon the choir sang " What shall the harvest 
be?" and as I listened to the beautiful music, 
all the sins of my past life seemed to pass in 
review before me. I had sown the crop, and I 



172 Mason Long : 

wondered what my harvest would be. As I 
was leaving the church my eyes rested upon the 
little lady, through whose kind words I had 
been led to sign the pledge. I thought this a 
happy omen. She handed me a Bible, saying 
that she had marked a lesson for me to study 
during the coming week, and asked if I would 
do so. I gladly promised her, and with the 
good book in my hand, I left the church and 
hastened to my room. There I found a big 
game of faro in progress, but I passed the 
players and went into my chamber, where I 
began to study the Bible which had been given 
me. Occasionally one of the gamblers would 
come into the room, and then I would secrete 
the book, as I feared ridicule. I spent many 
hours every day studying the word of God, 
and especially those pages which had been 
marked for me. I was constantly interrupted, 
and always hid the book. One day I was 
caught fairly and squarely by one of the gam- 
blers. He was greatly surprised, and his re- 
marks ran about like this : 

"Hallo, what is that? a Bible? well I de- 
clare, old boy, you're gone, sure. You're no 
longer the same man that you was before you 
signed the Murphy pledge than any thing in 
the world. There's no more fun in you any 
more ; a fellow fc might just as well talk to a 
cigar sign as to try to get a word out of you. 



Converted (rambler. 173 

You've Bible on the brain. You'll be crazy as 
a bed-bug in less than a month. Drop your 
d — d nonsense, Mace, and I'll show you a new 
thing in card playing. I'm playing colors now, 
and it will win sure, and no one shall stand in 
with this but you." 

These words made no impression upon my 
mind. I was greatly troubled, but not about 
faro. I read and re-read my Bible lesson, and 
the more I pondered it the greater became my 
mental anxiety. In despair I laid down the 
book, went to the gambling table, and tried 
to interest myself at faro. It was useless ; 
the old charm had vanished ; the old spell was 
broken. I left the table in disgust and re- 
sumed my Bible reading, but could find no 
peace. Night and day my torture increased. 
Sleep was a stranger to my eyelids and the 
food, at every meal, remained untasted before 
me. I began to think the gambler was right 
when he told me that I would go crazy, for my 
faculties seemed to be shaken. I left the city, 
but after a day's absence I returned. I felt an 
insatiable craving for something, I knew not 
what, a want which I could not define nor 
comprehend, but which was ever present. 

My condition physically was almost as bad as 
it was mentally. I was weak, restless, and 
feverish, and therefore consulted a physician, 
who told me that I was threatened with serious 



174 Mason Long: 

illness, and prescribed for me. But his med- 
icine did not reach the vital spot. Under its 
effects I slept, but I had troubled dreams, and 
when I rose I was neither rested nor refreshed. 
For several days and nights I had neither slept 
nor eaten. I was under conviction, and felt 
that my sins, which were as scarlet, could never 
be forgiven. I looked forward to a life of woe, 
and anxiously inquired of those I met what I 
should do. 

" Put your trust in God," they would say. 

" But I do trust Him. I have given up 
everything, and tried to be a Christian ; but I 
can't. I can find no peace ; I feel as if my 
God had forsaken me, and that there is no sal- 
vation for such as I." 

My mental condition was worse than ever. 
I longed to get away from myself — to fly to 
some distant solitude, some trackless forest — to 
any place that I could find peace. I frequently 
tried to pray, but the words seemed to mock 
me. Discouraged and hopeless, I sought my 
old companions, and sought to be one of them 
again. It was useless. Their profane words 
grated on my ears ; their coarse jokes and jests 
were intensely painful to me. The club room 
and saloons were abominable in my sight, and 
I avoided them as much as possible. 

And so my life wore on. If my sins had 
been great, so had my sufferings. It would 



Converted Gfambler. 175 

take a genius to portray my mental torments. 
I realized that no human being could success- 
fully " minister to a mind diseased," and the 
Great Physician seemed to have forsaken me. 
Sometimes I would rise from my knees after a 
long season of prayer, with a happier feeling 
and with tears streaming from my eyes. Then 
I would think that the Lord had forgiven me, 
and granted me His blessing ; but when I went 
to my club room, the old feeling of despair 
came back to me with redoubled force. 

Sabbath came again, and in company with 
Brother Hallenbeck I attended the Wayne 
Street Methodist-Episcopal church, and heard 
the pastor, Rev. R. N. McKaig, deliver a ser- 
mon to reformed men. The discourse was an 
able one, and I enjoyed it very much, but did 
not get the relief I craved. 

After leaving the church, I told my troubles 
to Brother Hallenbeck. I told him the mental 
anguish and physical exhaustion I was suffer- 
ing ; how hard I was trying to become a Chris- 
tian, and how useless the effort seemed ; how I 
had prayed God for hours at a time to forgive 
my sins and grant me a new heart, but He had 
denied me the blessing I asked ; how for seven 
days I had neither eaten nor slept, but had 
passed through the most fearful experience of 
my life. 

Brother Hallenbeck listened attentively to 



176 Mason Long: 

me, and expressed deep sympathy with me. 
He tried to encourage me, and said there was 
evidently something I had left undone. He 
did not know what it was, but he thought if I 
would go to the Rink that evening, publicly 
confess before the audience that I was a great 
sinner, and declare my faith in Christ, I would 
find peace. 

I told him I would take his advice, and 
hoped it would bring me consolation. I spent 
the afternoon in my room, trying to think what 
I would say at the Rink. When I left for the 
meeting, I thought I knew exactly what I 
would say, but I changed my mind a dozen 
times ere I reached the building. 

I entered and took a seat beside the speak- 
ers — Hon. Wm. McConnell and Mrs. Jesse 
M. Gale, of Angola. There were about fif- 
teen hundred people present, and two grand 
speeches were made. I could, however, take 
little interest in them, for I felt the old gnaw- 
ing at my soul, and the old burden upon my 
mind. 

When the speakers had concluded and the 
audience was about to disperse, Mr. Hallenbeck 
announced that I, at my own request, would 
speak a few words. The people looked sur- 
prised, and, as many were tired, I felt as if they 
regarded me in the light of an interloper. 
However, I hastened to the rostrum, anxious 



Converted Gambler. 177 

not to delay the audience, and longing to un- 
burden myself. When I faced the vast assem- 
blage, I could not remember a word that I had 
intended to say. However, I found language 
— I think God gave it to me — and this is what 
I said, as reported in the newspapers next day: 
" A few months ago I stood upon this rostrum 
and confessed that I was a drunkard. Now I 
want to make another confession, which is, that 
I am a great sinner. For the past ten days and 
nights I have not enjoyed one hour's natural 
sleep, so deep is my conviction, and my burden 
of sin is so great that I can live this way no 
longer. So I have come to you for help. Oh! 
I want to beg the Christian people of Fort 
Wayne to pray for me, that I may find rest. I 
have been praying all this time, but my prayers 
are not answered. I have been constantly 
reading my Bible, and the more I study ifc the 
greater is my distress. In it I have found a 
passage which troubles me greatly. It is this : 
1 For we must all appear before the judgment 
seat of Christ, that every one may receive the 
things done in the body, according to that 
he hath done, whether it be good 01* bad.' 
— (2 Corinthians x, 5.) These words continu- 
ally sounded in my ears, and led me to sum up 
my case as it would be on the Last Great Day. 
I wondered what good I had done in this 
world, and tried to balance it against the evil, 



178 Mason Long : 

but the latter sent it up to the beam ; the ac- 
count would not balance. I consulted the 
Revs. Stone, Moffatt, McKaig, McFarland, and 
others, and they kindly advised me. I told 
them I was guilty, and I now plead guilty 
before the Great Judge and these witnesses. I 
am a poor, miserable sinner, but hope for God's 
mercy, and I feel that my dear sainted mother 
is interceding in my behalf." 

When I sat down I was in tears, but I felt 
greatly relieved. Many were weeping in the 
audience ; for indeed the scene was an 
affecting one. I, who had been a professional 
gambler, saloon keeper, and drunkard ; who 
had for years violated not only divine but 
human laws ; who had been regarded by all as 
a reckless, degraded character ; who had run 
the gauntlet of sin — stood up before fifteen 
hundred Christian people, and asked their 
prayers for my salvation. The spectacle was 
certainly an extraordinary one. 

After my remarks, Dr. Stone was called upon 
to pray for me. He said if there were others 
who, like me, were seeking the way to Christ, 
and desired to be remembered in the prayer, 
they should stand up. All over the house 
strong men rose to their feet, many in tears, 
and the seal of conviction upon their faces. Dr. 
Stone prayed for me and the other stricken 



Converted Gambler. 179 

souls with an unction and fervor which were 
wonderful. 

The prayer was a marvel and every word of 
it sank deep into my heart. It was a thrilling 
and powerful appeal for mercy, and I shall re- 
member it to my dying day. I believe God 
heard and answered it. 

I returned to my room, fell on my knees and 
implored God to hear me in my distress. Then 
I retired and laid awake, thinking of the same 
old subject until two o'clock, when I arose, 
turned on the gas, and looked about me. I 
stepped into the club room, and looked at the 
gambling tables, the sideboard, and all the ap- 
purtenances, and then asked myself, "Why 
should God forgive me while I remain in this 
place, where I have never done aught but sin 
against Him." Gambling was my favorite vice, 
and I had never yet determined to abandon it. 
But then a sudden resolution was formed ; I 
took one last look at the gambling room, at the 
faro table, where I had played so often — at the 
sideboard from which I had repeatedly dealt out 
whisky to my fellow men — and then quit the 
place forever. It was then and there that I 
made the complete surrender to Christ as 
every one must do, who desires to be saved. 

I went to a hotel, took a room, and again 
sought my Maker. In less than an hour I felt 
that the blessing had come which I had striven 



180 Mason Long : 

for so long. I went to bed and the pillow was 
soon wet with tears which were streaming from 
my eyes — tears, not of sorrow and remorse, but 
of joy and gladness. I at once fell asleep and 
enjoyed unbroken slumber. The next morning 
I awoke with a light heart. The sun was 
shining brightly into my room and it seemed 
as if I had never seen such a beautiful morning 
before. I looked out of the window and saw a 
clear, cloudless sky, a fit image of the condi- 
tion of my soul after so many days of anguish 
and torture. 

I hurried from the room to tell my Christian 
friends that their prayers had been answered, 
and the verdict had come. I was so happy that 
I wanted all the world to share my joy. 

I had at last found peace, and truly it was the 
peace that passeth all understanding. I was 
hopeful of a bright future and an eternity of 
bliss. None who have not passed through the 
same blessed experience that I have, can real- 
ize what a great change there was in my life 
and feelings, and thoughts. I found a new 
charm in living, a new beauty in nature, a new 
light in the world. I was cheerful and was 
greeted with an encouraging smile by all who 
met me. I consecrated myself to Christ and 
solemnly vowed to devote the remainder of my 
life to His service. I now bless God every day 



Converted Grambler. 181 

and every hour for His infinite mercy and good- 
ness to me. I am striving constantly to bring 
other wandering souls to Him, that they may, 
like me, find peace in believing. 



182 Mason Long : 



CHAPTER X. 

MY ADMISSION INTO THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF 
FORT WAYNE — IMMERSION IN THE PRESENCE OF A 
VAST AUDIENCE — PRESS REPORTS OF THE CEREMONY. 

It is utterly impossible for me to describe the 
vast change that had taken place in me since my 
conversion. My entire being seemed to have 
undergone a transformation, and my life, feel- 
ings, thoughts, impulses, and ambitions had been 
completely altered. I no longer felt the slight- 
est desire to tread the paths I had so long 
traveled ; the so-called pleasures of this world 
had lost all their charms for me. My only 
desire was to do that which should be pleasing 
in the sight of the Lord and bring down upon 
me His blessings, and approval. 

The question of identifying myself with some 
church, early presented itself to my mind, and 
I deliberated over it carefully. I felt deeply 
my own unworthiness, and it seemed to me that 
it would involve an undue degree of assurance 
for me to present myself as a candidate for pub- 
lic admission into the ranks of God's professed 
disciples. In so doing I would take upon myself 
vows, the force and sacredness of which I fully 



Converted Gambler. 183 

recognized. What church, thought I, will care 
to welcome me to its folds, until I bring forth 
" fruits meet for repentance," and prove by my 
daily life and conversation, that I am entirely 
sincere in my professions, and earnest in my 
declared intentions of leading a purer and 
nobler life ? What church will have confidence 
enough in me to take the risk of my future being 
such as, not only not to dishonor myself, but to 
cast a stigma upon its name, and bring reproach 
upon the cause of our Blessed Master ? These 
doubts were continually arising and I remained 
undecided for some time as to what course to 
pursue. 

On the other hand I felt a strong yearning 
to enroll my name upon the books of some 
congregation, and become entirely affiliated 
with God's people. I longed to sit at the 
communion table, and in company with old 
followers of the Cross partake of the blessed 
sacrament which the Savior ordained. I felt 
that if I obtained a recognized place in the 
Christian community, I could enjoy the mani- 
fold blessings of religion, as I could never do 
if I remained outside the pale of the church, 
and I finally determined — despite the doubts 
to which I have referred and to which I gave 
full weight — to apply for admission to the 
membership of some religious organization. 

This conclusion was only arrived at after 



184 Mason Long : 

repeated consultations with my trusted and 
beloved spiritual adviser, Dr. Stone. He'advised 
me to join some church promptly, believing it 
to be not only my duty, but a glorious privilege 
of which I should not hesitate to avail myself. 
The serious step I had resolved upon — fori 
fully comprehended its solemnity and import- 
ance — was taken with prayerful deliberation 
and earnest reflection. I realized that there were 
hundreds of eyes upon me ; that I was made 
the subject of much unfriendly comment, carp^- 
ing criticism, and unfavorable prediction ; and 
that I must act with due circumspection and 
discretion. I studied my Bible with great care, 
and aimed to inform myself as to the duties and 
obligations of a professing Christian, in order 
to make sure that I could faithfully discharge 
them. I was also in doubt as to what denomi- 
nation I should select, until I had read the 
third chapter of St. Matthew and the first 
chapter of St. Mark, including the following 
passages : 

"And it came to pass in those days that 
Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was 
baptized of John in Jordan. 

" And straightway coming up out of the 
water, He saw the heavens opened, and the 
Spirit like a dove descending upon Him. 

" And there came a voice from the heavens 



Converted Q-ambler. 185 

saying, ' Thou art my beloved son, in whom I 
am well pleased.' " — Mark i., 9, 10, 11. 

Besides I found the Apostle Paul in his Epistle 
to the Romans (ch. vi., 4) speaking of baptism 
as " a burial with Christ into death" and a 
" rising with Him " to newness of life — and this 
seemed to settle the question as to what the 
ordinance was, in those days, as to its outward 
form. 

These passages left no doubt in my mind as 
to the course I should pursue. I decided to 
unite with the Baptist Church, believing that 
as our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, had 
been baptized in the River Jordan, and had 
thereby called out a blessing from heaven, His 
disciple could not do better than to follow in 
His footsteps. I think that Jesus, by under- 
going immersion exhibited a preference for that 
form of baptism, and that He is well pleased 
when His followers imitate His example in this 
as in other respects. I believe that were He on 
earth to-day, He would be a Baptist; and 
although that is my conviction, I have the deep- 
est love and sympathy with professing Christians 
of all denominations, and am ready at all times 
to extend the right hand of fellowship to every 
human being, who may be striving, under any 
name, to advance the cause of righteousness and 
bring men to a saving knowledge of the gospel 
of Christ Jesus. 



186 Mason Long : 

I communicated to Dr. Stone my desire to 
unite with his church (the First Baptist) at 
which he seemed highly gratified, although he 
said he desired me to act solely upon my own 
free will and my conviction of right and duty, 
and not through any partiality toward him or 
by reason of any undue influence he might 
possess over me. I satisfied him that my desire 
was the result of study and reflection, and on 
Friday evening, January 4, 1878, I offered 
myself as a candidate for Christian baptism and 
membership in the First Baptist Church of 
Fort Wayne at their regular covenant meeting. 

What was expected of me here I could hardly 
conceive ; as I had never before attended such 
a meeting, and knew almost nothing of the 
exercises appropriate to such an occasion, or 
the special significance of its peculiar name, 
much less the character and value of " The 
Covenant Meeting." 

As I have since been frequently asked, as to 
what sort of a meeting it is, and what is it like, 
perhaps some of my readers would be glad to 
have my description and estimate of it. 

Covenant meetings, so called, are found, I 
believe, only among the Baptists, yet they are 
not very much unlike the general " class meet- 
ings " of the Methodist Church, in their gen- 
eral character. The pastor usually presides. 
After suitable opening devotional exercises, 



Converted Gambler. 187 

every member present is expected to speak, with 
more or less fullness, of personal religious 
experiences during the previous month or more, 
since last in attendance upon such an occasion ; 
and especially to express each one's sense of 
obligation to the covenant vows entered into 
at the time of being received into membership ; 
as also the strength and heartiness of one's at- 
tachment to the cause of Christ as a whole ; 
and to the church and its respective member- 
ship in particular. In this line of thought, and 
toward these aims, all, without distinction or 
exception, are desired to speak, though it should 
be but in the briefest manner. Sometimes 
one hundred persons or more will " speak to 
the covenant " in the course of an hour and a 
quarter. These brief and unstudied utterances 
of religious experience, sometimes joyous and 
at other times sad and sorrowful, are almost 
always specially worth hearing ; and sometimes 
they are eminently practical, thoughtful, sug- 
gestive, and profitable ; and the pastor, by a 
suitable song, or scripture passage, or pertinent 
remarks interspersed, not only prevents a mo- 
notonous weariness, or a pointless, profitless, 
sameness of impression, but gives to the whole 
unity and variety as well ; and freshness, vital- 
ity and interest ; conducing to increased spirit- 
uality of mind, to vigorous growth of faith ; to 
the strengthening of hope ; the deepening and 



188 Mason Long: 

broadening of Christian experience and the 
stronger attachment of the members to one an- 
other and to the church. 

The Baptists profess to take the Bible as their 
fundamental statute book and authority for all 
religious belief and practice in their several 
churches and their sovereign law for all ends, 
ways, and courses of life. 

They publish to the world, however, a dec- 
laration of faith embracing eighteen different 
articles, with ample scriptural authority for the 
same. That all may know, if they desire, in how 
many and what things, they agree with other 
Christian people and in what respect they 
differ, I give the first and last of these declar- 
ations : 

" I. — Of the Scriptures. 

u We believe that the Holy Bible was written 
by men divinely inspired, and is a perfect treas- 
ure of heavenly instruction ; that it has God 
for its author, salvation for its end, and truth 
without any mixture of error for its matter ; 
that it reveals the principles by which God will 
judge us ; and therefore is, and shall remain to 
the end of the world, the center of Christian 
union, and the supreme standard by which all 
human conduct, creeds, and opinions should be 
tried." 



Converted Gambler. 189 

" XVIII. — Of the World to Come. 

" We believe that the end of the world is ap- 
proaching ; that at the last day Christ will 
descend from heaven, and raise the dead from 
the grave to final retribution ; that a solemn 
separation will then take place ; that the wicked 
will be adjudged to endless punishment, and 
the righteous to endless joy, and that this 
judgment will fix forever the final state of men 
in heaven or hell, on principles of righteous- 
ness." 

In addition to this declaration of faith, they 
have, of course, certain by-laws and rules of 
order for the proper transaction of business, 
such as no one can object to, and also the fol- 
lowing " covenant," to which every person 
joining the church is required to give his or 
her solemn pledge. 

Church Covenant. 

" Having been led, as we believe, by the 
Spirit of God, to receive the Lord Jesus Christ 
as our Savior, and on the profession of our 
faith, having been baptized in the name of the 
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, 
we do now, in the presence of God, angels, 
and this assembly, most solemnly and joyfully 



190 Mason Long: 

enter into covenant with one another, as one 
body in Christ. 

" We engage, therefore, by the aid of the 
Holy Spirit, to walk together in Christian 
love ; to strive for the advancement of this 
church in knowledge, holiness, and com- 
fort ; to promote its prosperity and spirituality ; 
to sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline, 
and doctrines; to contribute cheerfully and 
regularly to the support of the ministry, the 
expenses of the church, the relief of the poor, 
and the spread of the gospel through all 
nations. 

" We also engage to maintain family and 
secret devotions ; to religiously educate our 
children ; to seek the salvation of our kin- 
dred and acquaintances ; to walk circumspectly 
in the world ; to be just in our dealings, faith- 
ful in our engagements, and exemplary in our 
deportment ; to avoid all tattling, back-biting, 
and excessive anger ; to abstain from the sale 
and use of intoxicating drinks as a beverage, 
and to be zealous in our efforts to advance the 
kingdom of our Savior. 

" We further engage to watch over one 
another in brotherly love ; to remember each 
other in prayer ; to aid each other in sickness 
and distress ; to cultivate Christian sympathy 
in feeling and courtesy of speech ; to be slow 
to take offense, but always ready for reconcile 



Converted Gambler. 191 

ation, and mindful of the rules of our Savior, 
to secure it without delay. 

" We moreover engage, that when we remove 
from this place, we will as soon as possible 
unite with some other church, where we can 
carry out the spirit of this covenant, and the 
principles of God's word." 

It will be at once perceived that every mem- 
ber of any Baptist Church professes, and is be- 
lieved to be a spiritually renewed person— re- 
generated or " born again" of the Holy Spirit 
— fully resolved and determined, by the help 
and grace of God, to live an upright, honest, 
pure, and consistent Christian life — every one 
being also most solemnly "pledged to total ab- 
stination from all intoxicating drinks as a bever- 
age" both as to the sale and personal use — and in 
all things determined with full purpose of heart 
to adorn the doctrine of God our Savior, and 
so to glorify the Lord Jesus ; and to " save the 
perishing" as best they can. Their professions 
and aims are good. May their endeavors and 
their outward lives be always found to corre- 
spond. 

It was after reading this " church covenant" 
and all the members present, perhaps forty or 
fifty in all, had spoken, that the pastor, Dr. 
Stone, asked me if I desired to present myself 
for membership. Upon signifying my wish to 
be a member among them, I was asked to tell 



192 Mason Long: 

the church in my own way, the dealings of God 
with my soul, especially as to my change of 
heart and life, my new thoughts and feel- 
ings, my purposes and aims, my spirit, my 
hopes, my faith, my knowledge of God and 
the way of salvation from the power, the love, 
the dominion and the condemnation of sin. 
With great hesitancy and much trembling and 
self distrust, I told them as best I could — under 
the circumstances — the substance of what I 
have sincerely written out for this little book, 
found in Chapter nine. It was, of course, not 
so conveniently put together at the time — and 
some of it came out by question and answer ; 
but I have already given you the essential sub- 
stance of what, at that time, I tried to say 
briefly. 

I then related my Christian experience, 
told how I had been led, as I firmly believed, 
by the Spirit of God, to receive the Lord Jesus 
Christ as my Savior, how the change of heart 
for which I had prayed, came to me in the 
night, only after I had made a complete sur- 
render of my worldly vices, and bade farewell 
to the gambling table forever, how I had drawn 
the bolt of the door of my soul, where the Mas- 
ter had been rapping for admission so many 
years, but in vain, how with the change of heart 
had come the feeling of peace and rest to which 
I had ever been a stranger, and how I had new 



Converted Gambler. 193 

and warm impulses of kindness and compassion 
for my fellow men to whose salvation I had 
vowed to devote the remainder of my life. 

After these remarks, I was requested to 
retire, and in a few moments my pastor joined 
me and told me I had been unanimously chosen 
to membership. 

Nine or ten days elapsed before my immer- 
sion. Several unauthorized announcements of 
the ceremony appeared in the daily papers, 
which had the effect of filling the church on 
each occasion. It was hardly necessary to say 
that the publications were not made for this 
purpose, as falsely claimed by some. The 
eventful evening finally came, and the cere- 
mony was performed in the presence of a vast 
assemblage. I append extracts from the ac- 
counts printed in two of the daily papers of 
Fort Wayne. 

[From The News, Jan. 14, 1878.] 

"BuiiiED in Baptism. — Mason Long takes 
upon Himself a New Life. 

" Last evening, long before the usual hours 
for service, the First Baptist Church on West 
Jefferson Street was thronged with an earnest 
and interested assemblage, that had come to- 
gether to witness the solemn ordinances of 
baptism. The candidates consisted of one lady 



194 Mason Long : 

and three gentlemen, among the latter, Mr. 
Mason Long, so well and favorably known as 
one of the best hearted and most generous men 
in the community, who has lately turned from 
a life of pure and unadulterated cussedness to a 
higher and nobler existence, and whose sincere 
and honest profession can not but be fruitful 
of lasting good in the community. Mr. 
Long's example may safely be imitated by 
hundreds of his former companions in worldly 
life and pleasures. His address to the congre- 
gation was a manly confession of a stricken and 
contrite heart, and his words sank deep into 
the souls of the immense assemblage. Moist- 
ened eyes, many of them unused to weeping, 
were observed on all sides, and silent prayers 
from hundreds of sympathetic hearts were sent 
upward for the new converts' continued faith 
and final glorious exchange of the church 
militant for the church triumphant. The re- 
marks of Rev. Dr. Stone were peculiarly appro- 
priate to the occasion, his welcome to the can- 
didates was cordial, and the impression made 
upon the vast audience was deeply impressive." 



Converted Grumbler. 1W5 



[From the Sentinel, same day.'] 

" Born Again — - The Ordinance of Baptism 
Administered to Mason Long and 
Others Last Evening. 

" The Sentinel, on Saturday last, having 
given notice that the rite of Baptism would be 
administered last evening at the First Baptist 
Church, a large congregation greeted the can- 
didates ; in fact as early as seven o'clock, the 
large auditorium of this beautiful church was 
filled, and every foot of available standing room 
was crowded. The sensation of the hour was 
the baptism of the well-known temperance ora- 
tor, Mr. Mason Long, whose remarkable con- 
version from a life of more concentrated cussed- 
ness to the square foot, than perhaps any other 
member of the community, to an entirely new, 
and, it is to be hoped, holier existence, has 
caused such a profound sensation. That his 
changed life and his concomitant professions 
are sincere, no real friend and well wisher hesi- 
tates to believe ; the skeptical are found in the 
ranks of those who miss his presence and pat- 
ronage, and remember him as their former friend 
and boon companion. Mr. Long connected him- 
self with the temperance movement last August, 
9 



196 Mason Long : 

and, having thus evinced a desire to reform, be- 
came the subject of much solicitude and the tar- 
get of many heartfelt invocations to God, that 
he might be endowed with strength and cour- 
age to overcome the habits that seemed to have 
completely, and it was feared irrevocably, fas- 
tened upon him. Kind counsels, Christian 
arguments prevailed ; and from good to better 
Mace has gone on until he finds himself within 
the folds of a Christian Church, with vows reg- 
istered aloft to well and truly live so that when 
he is called to exchange worlds he can die in 
full hopes of a blessed immortality. 

" After the usual preliminary services, the 
Rev. J. R. Stone, pastor, called upon Mr. Long 
to say a few words, that the immense auditory 
could see that he understood the ordinance so 
soon to be administered, and that he had, after 
much prayerful meditation and mature delibera- 
tion, voluntarily accepted it with all its kindred 
obligations. The assemblage was hushed to 
complete silence as he spoke the following words : 

" \ How thankful I am that I have been 
spared to help make this scene. I am thank- 
ful that I can stand before you and claim Christ 
as my Savior. Only a few months ago I came 
to this house with a bleeding heart, and with 
tears of remorse and sorrow for my past wicked 
life. I listened to a sermon, every word of 
which seemed especially intended for me, and 



Converted Gambler. 197 

I eagerly drank in the sweet music, which 
made my heart beat as it never had before. 
After the service one of the Sabbath-school 
scholars of the church came to me with a Bible, 
with many passages marked for me as my les- 
son; why she gave me this book God only 
knows. I went to my room and studied my 
lesson. I was convicted and one month there- 
after went to the Rink, stood up before hun- 
dreds of people, confessed my sins, and asked 
God to forgive them. Then I went to my room 
seeking rest, but found none. Looking at the 
gambling apparatus for the last time, I left the 
room at two o'clock at night, went to a hotel, 
and found rest. 

" ' I again asked God's forgiveness, and then 
recalled the promise to my dying mother, that 
I would be a good boy and meet her in heaven. 
How well I remember her last words, " God 
have mercj' on my boy/' Those are sweet 
words to me, and I am very thankful that they 
are yet fresh in my memory. I have one request 
to make of the Christian people ; that is, to pray 
for me earnestly, as I go down into the pool, 
that the dark past may be washed away forever, 
and that I may come up praising the Lord for- 
ever and forever. 

u ' May I say one word to my pastor: You 
have watched over me for years. I have 
shunned you time and again. When under the 



198 Mason Long : 

influence of liquor I have frequently met you 
in the streets, when my guilty conscience would 
drive me into an alley or saloon, where I knew 
you would not follow, and for this I now ask 
your forgiveness. I have prayed for God to 
allow you to remain with us for many years to 
come, as our pastor, and should it be your lot 
to be called from us, when you are standing 
with the angels above you will not forget your 
little flock on earth.' 

" There were few dry eyes among the audience 
upon the conclusion of the address, which was 
delivered in a feeling manner that appealed 
directly to the consciences of all present." 

I have never regretted for one moment the 
step I took upon that memorable evening. As 
I emerged from the pool, I felt all my good 
purposes strengthen and my determination 
never to bring dishonor or disgrace upon the 
cause of Christ, was more fixed than ever. The 
solemn and beautiful rite of baptism seemed to 
bring a blessing with it, and to inspire me with 
new courage and increased confidence, in the 
great conflict I had undertaken. I have suc- 
ceeded in fulfilling my solemn pledges, and in 
leading a consistent,upright,Christian life. I have 
prayerfully sought, by word and action, to glo- 
rify the Lord, who hath done such great things 
for me, and I believe that by His blessing, I 
have been the humble instrument of accom- 



Converted Gambler, 199 

plishing some good. I am ready and willing to 
do whatsoever my hands can find, and I esteem 
it an especial comfort and privilege that I am 
able to labor in the Lord's vineyard. I feel 
deeply my own unworthiness, but have an 
abiding faith in the grace of God, that it will 
remain with me to the end. I am active in the 
church, and in the temperance cause, and my 
only regret is that it is not in my power to do 
all that I would like to, bringing perishing 
souls to a knowledge of Christ Jesus, and 
inducing poor sinful human beings to embrace 
the glorious salvation which is free to all. 



200 Mason Long : 



CHAPTER XI. 

MY CAREER SINCE MY CONVERSION— WHAT I AM DOING IN 
THE TEMPERANCE WORK. 

-■■"How shall I gain my livelihood " was a 
question of great importance to me, after I had 
entered upon my new life. I had but a limited 
education, little knowlege of any trade or busi- 
ness, and in addition to these disadvantages, 
I was penniless, and embarrassed by debts 
aggregating a considerable amount. I was, 
however, greatly encouraged by some of our 
best citizens and most prominent busi- 
ness men, who voluntarily sought me out, 
and asked me what occupation I desired 
to engage in, at the same time promising me 
their assistance and support. Among them 
was Mr. John D. Olds, a wealthy gentleman, 
who with true Christian generosity, said to me: 
" I want you to pick out a business that you 
are capable of doing, and you shall not lack for 
the means to carry it on." This noble offer 
was thankfully accepted, and I speedily availed 
myself of Mr. Olds' kindness. I rented a build- 
ing in Fort Wayne, fitted it up, and in one week 
opened a temperance restaurant, for ladies and 



Converted Gambler, 201 

gentlemen. The " Model Coffee House," as I 
called it, was made neat and attractive, and at 
once became very popular, among the best 
classes of people. Many, no doubt, have patron- 
ized me by way of encouragement, and for this 
I am very thankful. My business has been 
uniformly good since I began. Some days as 
many as two hundred and twenty-five meals 
have been taken in my place. Among those 
who have patronized me, were saloon keepers 
and sporting men, who have encouraged me in 
my new life, and expressed regret that they too 
could not muster up courage to take the 
step I had taken. I have endeavored to induce 
them to abandon their evil ways, and lead bet- 
ter lives, and have succeeded in getting a great 
many drunkards to sign the pledge, and become 
men among men. I got fifty-nine of the very 
worst of that class, to put on the blue ribbon, 
in one month, and with scarcely an exception, 
they are faithful to their promises. Among 
the most staunch and determined in their new 
mode of life, are those who, like me, have 
drained the cup of dissipation and vice to its 
dregs, and become satisfied that the inevitable 
fruits of such indulgence are shame, sorrow, 
and distress. 

I soon found out that " it pays to be a man." 
I made many warm friends, in my new pursuit, 
and received offers of pecuniary assistance from 



202 Mason Long : 

persons who had scarcely ever exchanged a 
word with me. These unsolicited proofs of 
confidence, gratified me beyond measure, and 
I am striving to prove myself worthy of them. 
After my conversion, I received a great many 
invitations to visit neighboring towns and speak 
on the question of temperance. I am no ora- 
tor, and have not enjoyed the advantages of an 
education, but I go and tell the story of my 
wrecked but redeemed life, and it seems to 
have as much effect as the most eloquent and 
polished speech. I make no pretensions, and 
am neither working for fame nor money. I am 
willing — nay, anxious — to go wherever I can 
accomplish even the smallest amount of good. 
I have usually had large audiences, and have 
received abundant testimony that my labors 
have not been wholly fruitless. I have deliv- 
ered over one hundred addresses in the year 
which has elapsed since I consecrated myself 
to this work. In Toledo I spoke to an audience 
of fourteen hundred, and on the next evening; I 
went into the country and talked to one hundred 
and fifty people. On the 31st of last May, I spoke 
at the great Murphy gathering of ten thousand 
persons, at Logansport, and on the succeeding 
evening I went to a small village, eighteen 
miles from Fort Wayne, where the first saloon 
was about to be started. I spoke in the church 
to a small gathering, among those present being 



Converted Gambler. 203 

the two young men who had left their farms in 
order to open this saloon. I told in my plain 
and humble way, what whisky had done for 
me, and these young men, after the speech, 
came forward and signed the pledge. They 
gave up the saloon idea and went back to the 
farm. Although my audience numbered but 
sixty-five, I went away with a light heart, feel- 
ing that I had done more good than at Logans- 
port, where I had ten thousand listeners. I 
have spoken at large meetings in Chicago, Terre 
Haute, and many other cities. Among the 
places that I have delivered speeches are Elk- 
hart, Valparaiso, Warsaw, Larville, Monroe- 
ville, Columbia City, Logansport, Lafayette, 
Peru, Wabash, Huntington, Roanoke, Delphi, 
Saline City, Defiance, Napoleon, Antwerp, De- 
catur, Bluffton, Auburn, Waterloo, Angola, 
Kendallville, Ligonier, La Otto, Cherubusco, 
Munson's Chapel, Van Wert, Coldwater, Ann 
Arbor, Ypsilanti, and many others. At sev- 
eral of these points I have spoken twice ; some 
three times, and once (South Bend) as many 
as seven times. 

I am not telling my story, or traveling 
through the country, in order to make a living. 
My little restaurant business at Fort Wayne 
supports me, and I have no desire to gain a liveli- 
hood by my efforts in the cause of temperance. 
Usually, when I speak, a collection is taken up, 



204 Mason Long : 

and the proceeds handed to me. I make a 
practice of deducting my necessary expenses, 
and donating the remainder to the organization 
under whose auspices I may be speaking. Most 
of these associations are poor, and need this 
money, and I think much good is done by these 
contributions. I speak of this, not to take any 
credit to myself, but merely to disabuse the 
public of the idea, which is very prevalent, that 
every man who travels about in the temperance 
cause does so from mercenary motives. I think 
my plan is the best, and that if all who are 
interested in this great movement would adopt 
it, the general results would be better. 
; In my labors in this field, I make no efforts 
at eloquence or rhetorical flourish. I simply tell 
my story in plain, unadorned language, such as 
I have used in this book, and I believe the 
effect is usually good. I especially try, in my 
humble way, to influence the children. I 
believe that everything in this life depends 
upon getting the right kind of a start, and that 
in nine cases out of ten, those who fall into 
evil courses, and become intemperate and licen- 
tious, do so from the failure to receive proper 
training in childhood. I have never doubted 
that my career would have been widely differ- 
ent, but for the adverse surroundings of my 
youth. I think it is a wise policy for children 
to §ign this pledge, and become interested in 



Converted Gambler. 205 

this great movement. The influence of the 
little people in this world is, I think, largely 
under-estimated. If directed into the right 
channels, they are able to exert a vast power 
for good ; and a great mistake is made when 
we overlook them in organizing the work of 
reform. 

I sometimes think that parents, as a rule, do 
not comprehend the fearful responsibilities 
under which they labor. They have precious, 
immortal souls, intrusted to their care, and 
they should see to it that these great trusts are 
properly discharged. The social glass of wine, 
the friendly game of cards in the home circle, 
may seem very innocent pastimes; but in how 
manj r children have they implanted the fond- 
ness for gambling, or the taste for liquor, which 
has afterward proved their ruin ? The effect 
of these things is not, I think, sufficiently 
understood by fathers and mothers ; and I 
esteem it part of my mission to open their 
eyes, so far as it is in my power, to the 
awful consequences which they invite by 
their thoughtlessness and carelessness. 

My story is finished. I give my little book 
to the world, painfully aware that it is deficient 
in literary merit, and that the cultured and 
educated may subject its pages to the most 
severe, but doubtless deserved, criticism. For 
this I am fully prepared. But I cherish a lin- 



206 Mason Long : 

geringhope that this unpretending little volume, 
in spite of its many and acknowledged faults, 
may be the means of doing some little good ; 
that the story of my wasted life may prove a 
warning to some who are just entering upon the 
pathway I trod so many years ; and that others 
who, like me, have drifted far out into the cur- 
rent of sin and wickedness, may be led by my 
blessed experience to seek the Savior, and find 
the peace and happiness which are now denied 
them. 

And now I bid farewell to my readers, and 
may God bless them all. 



Converted Q-ambler. 207 



TESTIMONIALS FROM CLERGYMEN. 



From Rev. J. R. Stone, D.D., Pastor First 
Baptist Church, Fort Wayne, Ind. 

Fort Wayne, July 5, 1878. 

TO WHOMSOEVER THIS MAY COME : 

This is to Certify, That Mr. Mason Long is a 
member of the First Baptist Church, Fort 
Wayne, Indiana, in good and regular standing, 
and that he has the full confidence and fellow- 
ship of our entire membership. We regard him 
as a truly reformed, honest, worthy man, and 
a sincere Christian, as he is also an earnest, 
effective worker in the temperance cause. As 
such we commend him. J. R. Stone, 

Pastor First Baptist Church. 



From Rev. Samuel Haskell, D.D., Pastor First 
Baptist Church, Ann Arbor, Michigan. 

Ann Arbor, May 30, 1878. 
Mr. Mason Long — My Dear Brother : 
Absence from home, and illness, have pre- 
vented my writing sooner, to say what I have 
desired to since your labors in our city and 
vicinity. It is due to you, and to the cause at 



208 Mason Long : 

large, that we bear our testimony to the excel- 
lent effect of your addresses, and personal 
bearing among us. While all Christian people 
have taken you to their hearts in liveliest sym- 
pathy, and continued prayerful remembrance, 
many others, who had distrusted or feared the 
Christian element in our reform, have been 
brought to a wiser thoughtfulness. If an 
experience of the religion of Christ can do 
that of which you are a witness, hardened and 
prejudiced men must feel that they should 
think again before rejecting it, or disavowing 
its power in recovering the lost. 

May God keep and strengthen you, making 
you a still brighter and everlasting " epistle 
written in the heart, known and read of all 
men." 

Your audience here was the best of any 

weekly assembly which our year of remarkable 

meetings and eminent speakers had witnessed. 

Most sincerely yours, 

Samuel Haskell. 



From Rev. H. A. Grobin, D.D., Pastor First 

Methodist Church, Lafayette, Indiana. 

Lafayette, May 13, 1878. 

Mr. Mace Long — Dear Brother : I was not 

permitted to hear you on your former visit to 

Lafayette, but as I listened to you last night, I 

was not surprised at the wonderful sensation 



Converted Gantbler. 209 

and blessed influence pervading our city on the 
occasion of your first address in our temperance 
meetings. The recital of your experience is 
one of the most pathetic and satisfying testi- 
monies to the value of Christianity that I ever 
heard. May God bless you, my brother. You 
ought to spend your whole time in telling the 
story of your eventful life. Your zeal in sin 
almost ruined you, but your zeal in righteous- 
ness will not only bless your own heart, but by 
the blessing of God you can save thousands 
from the gulf of misery to which you were 
hastening. 

Several of our most intelligent citizens have 
remarked to me that your address was the most 
impressive appeal for temperance and religion 
they ever heard. For years and years you will 
be gratefully remembered in Lafayette. May 
you never do a thing to cast a shadow on our 
esteem and love for you. We all say, may God 
bless Mace Long. Cordially your brother, 

H. A. Gobin. 



From Rev. Robert MacKenzie, D.D., Pastor First 
Presbyterian Church, Lafayette, Indiana. 

Lafayette, April 30, 1878. 

Mason Long, Esq. — My Christian Brother : 

Let me assure you of the great good your 

words have done in our midst in awakening 

more of the spirit of the gospel in our temper- 



210 ' Mason Long: 

ance work in Lafayette. All the workers have 
been encouraged and refreshed by your visit. 
As for myself I can only repeat words I said to 
my congregation on the subject : " I have sat 
at the feet of seven professors for seven years, 
to fit myself to stand in the pulpit, but in the 
experiences of the human heart,* in the spirit 
necessary to reach those who have wandered 
far from God, in the subduing, sweetening influ- 
ence of the gospel upon such hearts, I learned 
something from the related experience of Mace 
Long which I never learned from a professor, 
and which has greatly helped me to follow the 
Master in saving the outcast and the prodigal. 
And he was all the better teacher because he 
did not know he was instructing us who sat at 
his back on the platform." 

May God bless you, 'my brother, and keep 
you humble and near the Cross. May God 
bless the Blue Ribbon movement that caught 
you in your downward way. Be faithful to the 
end if only for the dear mother's sake whose 
last pulse was a prayer for her boy. 

Yours in Christian temperance, 

Robert MaoKbnzib. 



Converted Gambler. 211 



CHAPTER XII. 



A SUPPLEMENTARY CHAPTER WRITTEN BY MY PASTOR, AT 
MY REQUEST. 



My acquaintance with Mr. Long began in 
1869. I had noticed in my congregation, soon 
after entering upon my pastorate in Fort Wayne, 
a gentleman of pleasing countenance and gen- 
teel appearance, who seemed to be a stranger 
to my people, and yet not a little interested in 
the services. He came again and again. I soon 
learned that he was known in town as "a sport- 
ing man," and was a skillful manipulator of cards, 
and regarded as a lucky, plucky, jolly good fel- 
low. I would sometimes miss him from church 
for awhile, and was told that he was away on 
business; perhaps at " the Races," which he 
followed from New Orleans to Saratoga ; or at 
some county or State fair, plying his " profes- 
sion;" but if in the city, which he called his 
home and made his headquarters, he was pretty 
sure to be in our assembly, and apparently an 
attentive listener. I used to wonder at this, 
and one day I sought an interview with him, 
that I might become acquainted with him more 
fully, and perhaps urge upon him personally, 



212 Mason Long: 

the claims of religion, reach his conscience, 
win his confidence, and, by the grace of God, 
bring him to Christ. He seemed a little sur- 
prised, at first, by my language and manner, 
but at once met me courteously, with cheerful 
good nature, and gentlemanly frankness. Upon 
my seeking, without undue abruptness, and as 
pleasantly, yet as faithfully as I could, to reach 
hi§ heart and his conscience, I found him in- 
trenched behind his notions of morality and 
personal honesty, his ideas of manliness and the 
proprieties of business, his natural good nature 
and kindly disposition toward the poor, the 
unfortunate, and the suffering, and his cheerful 
readiness to help the needy and the distressed 
wherever he might see them, and I subsequent- 
ly learned that his claims to be " a square deal- 
er," and " honorable" in all his professional 
ways, high-minded and gentlemanly, according 
to the code of fast and worldly men, were very 
generally accorded to him by his associates 
and acquaintances. Nor were his frequent and 
habitual kindnesses to persons in distress un- 
known or questioned. He was proverbially 
good-natured, kind-hearted and generous, and 
his word of honor was, up to this time, undis- 
puted. He had just before failed in business, 
yet scarcely one of his creditors ever doubted his 
honesty of purpose or heart. I learned, also, 
afterward, that he could, at almost any time, 



Converted Gambler. 213 

even when " dead broke," at the Races or at 
home, borrow any sums he asked, upon his own 
word of honor. He was in many respects an 
exceptional person and character. It was there- 
fore not altogether vain boasting, as a man 
among men, when he put himself behind such 
intrenchments that he might seek to escape or 
parry the force of my friendly but earnest and 
faithful attack. He listened, however, upon 
the occasion I am speaking of, to my kindly 
words, and to my attempted presentation of the 
claims of religion, the demands of Heaven's 
highest laws, and " the chief end of man," and 
as I spoke to him of the noblest possible living, 
the awards of the " Great Day," and the Har- 
vests of Eternity! The interview was brief, 
and my subsequent recollections of it far from 
satisfactory, but it served a double purpose — 
it gave me fuller insight and better knowledge 
of human nature in some of its more unprom- 
ising aspects and surroundings, so that I learned 
how better to reach gay and sportive young 
men, and it evidently attached Mr. Long to me 
by a cord that has never since been altogether 
severed. True, it afterward sank out of sight 
for a long time, as a whaleman's harpoon-line 
may sometimes run down and disappear, many 
fathoms deep, and seem for a long time to be 
clean gone and lost; but patient waiting, care- 
ful watching and rowing about, as on deep-sea 



214 Mawn Long : 

Sshing grounds, have not been, even in this in- 
stance, labor in vain. 

After awhile Mr. Long opened a saloon for 
billiards and " liquor samples," in connection 
with his private parlors and card tables, where 
one could count the leopard's " spots " and try 
his hand with u the tiger," amid gorgeous sur- 
roundings and trappings, in gay and sportive 
halls. This enlargement of his business, and 
especially [its new features, produced their in- 
evitable corresponding results upon his own 
nature, character, and outward appearances, and 
served so to stifle or strangle the voice of con^ 
science — so to paralyze his better nature and 
kill down to the ground its upspringing shoots 
—so compelled him to shut his eyes and close 
his ears, and rush on, blindly, madly, in his sin- 
ful and godless career, that from this time he 
ceased coming to the house of God altogether. 
Indeed, he determinedly turned away from the 
Light, " lest his deeds should be reproved." 

Nor could I now reach him at all, unless I 
were to go to his "den." From that I was 
deterred and kept back, perhaps unwisely, be- 
cause it seemed to promise, not only an unwel- 
come reception, but a scattering and loss of 
pearls that might but serve to provoke the tiger 
to fiercer rage. Besides, Mr. Long evidently 
avoided meeting me ; he shunned me when he 
could, lest, as he has since told me > I should 



Converted Gambler. 215 

talk to him of other and better things and ways 
than those he was then resolved upon pursuing, 
and should faithfully warn him of " the wrath 
to come !" 

Thus, conscience makes cowards of us all. 

Three or four years thus passed away, and 
Mr. Long was making for himself a sad.and 
sorrowful record for habits of " sporting," gam- 
bling, dissipation, dissoluteness, deeper, grosser, 
lower. He won and he lost ; he recovered and 
he broke down, again and again. His money 
losses were rapidly regained, yet often squan- 
dered in a week. His "bank " would often be 
quickly and largely flushed after a long and 
hard run, and soon he would find himself " dead 
broke" But all the while he was approaching 
complete bankruptcy of character, of manli- 
ness, of personal worth and of hope, even. 
His ventures were all afloat, on a stormy sea, 
amid sunken rocks and perilous shoals. The 
breakers were ofttimes in sight, yet he would 
shut his eyes. He would now and then hear 
the dashing surf, the mad billows' roar, and, 
above the. din, above the thunder-crash, he 
seemed to hear demon voices and fiendish yells, 
and through his fast shut eyelids he could see 
awful, terrible forms after him! 

Thus, full of unrest and wretchedness, and 
almost despairing of any thing better than 



216 Mason Long]: 

financial and social ruin, that stared him in the 
face — thinking little of the eternal future, and 
caring less — Mr. Long one evening found his 
way into "the Rink" partly from curiosity, and 
partly in hope of finding " lots of fun." For 
several months there had been, every night, in 
this immense building, crowds of people drawn 
together by earnest, zealous, effective workers 
in the temperance cause. These meetings had 
become the talk of the town, and scenes of won- 
drous and mighty marvel were occurring nightly. 
Hopeless and death-marked sots, abandoned 
and hitherto self-desponding, self-despairing 
men, not a few- — and many young men, fast, 
gay, sportive, had been induced to sign " the 
Murphy Pledge" and put on " the Blue Rib- 
bon." That first, stealthy visit of Mr. Long to 
the Rink, was for him most fortunate, as some 
would say. It proved to be to him, as now we 
see, the result of a divinely given impulse — of 
a heavenward-drawing force, as mighty as it was 
gentle, and unrecognized at the time. 

I saw him in the outer edge of the surging 
throng, as if he were stirred by mingled emo- 
tions of contempt, facetiousness, and rollicking 
jollity. 

The next night he was there again, and 
several earnest workers sought to win his name 
and influence for " the Murphy movement" and 
reform. At first they were repelled, but their 



Converted Gambler. 217 

zeal, their kindness of manner, their forceful 
arguments, their persistent and importunate 
appeals, and their trust in God, were soon 
rewarded, and Mason Long donned the Blue Rib- 
bon, and signed the Pledge, to the joy of a 
thousand people ! The walls of the Rink rang 
out jubilant echoes from full hearts and burst- 
ing throats that night, and they sang — 

" Ring the bells of heaven ! There is joy to-day. 
For a soul returning from the wild ! " 

It awakened, also, in not a few hearts, the 
long slumbering hope that this was but an 
earnest of something better. It was regarded 
the sure leverage for a still higher uplifting, 
and a thorough radical change of life and of 
character. Nor was this a strange thought to 
Mr. Long himself; for very shortly he ex- 
pressed, not only privately, but publicly also, 
the yearning of his innermost nature for some- 
thing higher and better than he had ever 
known, though he hardly knew or conceived of 
even as yet the outlines of what his soul's long- 
ings would have had built up within him, or for 
him. It was some time before his thoughts or 
desires dropped out and fell away from his rul- 
ing passion for tempting the wheel of fortune, 
or trying the chances of the possible combina- 
tions of luck and the future. As yet he saw no 
inherent evil, no essential and absolute wrong, 



218 Mason Long : 

in gaming, if there were no fraud practiced, no 
cheating, no dishonesty allowed ; and therefore 
for awhile his plans of life were not essentially 
changed, though his business fell off very con- 
siderably, in proportion as fast young men be- 
came sober and abstemious and habitual fre- 
quenters at the Rink, where the Gospel Tem- 
perance meetings were still nightly held with 
great and growing enthusiasm. 

At length, the utterances of the Rink speak- 
ers, the earnest words and kindly appeals of 
the temperance workers, some of them zealous 
Christian ladies, and some of them young Chris- 
tian converts from among the reformed men, 
began to stir his heart, and recall the almost 
long-forgotten prayers and entreaties of his 
sainted mother, and the promises he made to 
her upon her death-bed. And now, once more 
he turned his feet into the house of God, where 
years before he was accustomed to sit so often 
of Sabbath mornings. 

The sermon for the day was such as to arrest 
his attention, and compel his careful listening. 
It was blessed to the deepening of his religious 
convictions, to the intensifying of his desires 
for a nobler and a holy life, and to the heaven- 
ward direction of his thoughts, his wishes, and 
his prayerful yearnings of soul. 

To all this, at the close of the public service, 
added force and power was given by an unex- 



Converted Gambler. 219 

pected aud unlooked-for personal appeal, with 
an opened Bible, marked for just such reading 
as an awakened thoughtful sinner needs, to 
make his apprehension of God's truth and of his 
own condition clearer, fuller, stronger, and inef- 
faceable ; and to point out to him the only 
ground of hope, the only way of escape from 
death and perdition, the only method, or plan, 
or possibility, of salvation from the % curse and 
condemnation of sin ; as also from its bondage, 
its power, its terrible and assured end — ever- 
lasting woe ! 

He was urged to read it for himself, and to 
seek the pardoning, the renewing, the saving 
grace of God, at once with all his heart, by 
prayer and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. He 
was told that all his help was in God alone ; 
that in Jesus, the Savior of penitent sinners, 
was all his hope ; and that the Bible was his 
only safe, his only authoritative and infallible 
guide, as the Holy Spirit should make it lumin- 
ous to his apprehension ; and that the Divine 
assurance is for all and " upon all them that be- 
lieve," " to every one that believeth." These 
earnest words were also specially blessed of God 
to him. 

That same night, or shortly after, an immense 
throng in the Rink were astounded at Mr. 
Long's open and full confession of exceeding 
great sinfulness, in the sight of God, and in the 



220 ^ Mason Long: 

light and condemnation of his own quick- 
ened conscience ! His manner was intensely- 
earnest, and brokenhearted. His agony 
of soul was obviously deep and unutter- 
able, as he begged the prayers of Christ- 
ian people, for the grace and pardoning 
mercy of God toward him. Prayer, of course, 
fervent and importunate, was offered at once, 
and repeated at many a family and private 
altar that night ; as also by himself, till mercy 
came ; and the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ 
filled his heart with peace and rest, and grate- 
ful, joyous love; and with the comfort in the 
Holy Ghost! . 

In a few days he told us in the Rink, of the 
relief that had come to his soul — of the trust in 
God, the prayerfulness and thankfulness of his 
spirit — of his new desires and thoughts and 
purposes of heart, and, also, of his unreserved 
consecration and devotement to the service of 
God, and a new, a holy, a Christian life ! 

The crisis was passed, so far as Ave could see, 
" the life hid with Christ in God," was for him 
graciously begun. The language of his heart 
was : 

Here on Thy altar, Lord, I lay 

My soul, my life, my all : 
To follow where Thou lead'st the way ; 

To obey Thy every call ! 

This great change occurred in October last 



Converted Gambler. 221 

— nine or ten months ago. Since then Mr. 
Long has maintained a consistent Christian life, 
and continues to be an earnest, effective work- 
er for the Temperance Cause, and for the up- 
lifting and salvation of men from all sin and the 
power of all evil. He is an esteemed member 
of the First Baptist Church in Fort Wayne, 
having been " buried with Christ in baptism " 
upon profession of his faith early in January 
last. He has been ofttimes sorely tried by evil 
reports and malicious stories circulated against 
him, both abroad and at home, but he has 
always sought to maintain, I believe, a good 
conscience in the sight of God, and a consistent 
walk among men, as an honest, sincere, Chris- 
tian gentleman. He does not glory in his past 
shrewdness, gaiety, follies, or wickedness, but 
speaks of them, if at all, only to. warn the 
tempted and the unwary; and if possible to 
save them from his sad experiences, and from 
his former evil ways. 

We hope for him in the future, the Divine 
care, guidance, and grace ; that " God will work 
in him both to will and to do of His good 
pleasure ; " keeping him humble, faithful, 
manly, godly ; and we pray, we expect of him 
and for him, all this : that the grace of God 
may be magnified. 

He feels that his reform, and his new course 
in life, are the result and work of Divine grace 



222 Mason Long : 

in Jesus Christ, through faith in Him. His as- 
sured trust and abiding confidence that this 
new life shall be a continuous career of sobri- 
ety and virtue, of useful industry and worthi- 
ness, of true manliness and godliness, is, as well 
he says with all apparent sincerity, not 
in his own strength of purpose and personal 
might of will ; but in the help and power of 
God, inwardly strengthening him. His heart 
seems to be fixed, and determined u to walk 
henceforth in newness of life," (Romans vi, 
7,) " yielding himself unto God, as one alive 
from the dead ; and his members as instruments 
of righteousness, unto God. 5 ' The language of 
one who called himself " the chief of sinners," 
he makes his own and says : " By the grace of 
G-od I am what lam" 

" Not as though I had already attained ; 
either were already perfect ; but I follow after, 
if that I may apprehend that for which also I 
am apprehended of Christ Jesus ! " 

I waste no more in idle dreams my life, my soul away ; 

I wake to know my better self — I wake to watch and pray ; 

Thought, feeling, time, on idols vain I've lavished all too 

long; 
Henceforth to holier purposes I pledge myself, my song ! 










MASON LONG AT HIS MOTHER'S GRAVE. 



CHAPTER XIII.* 

SPEECH DELIVERED BY MASON LONG IN THE OPERA HOUSE 
AT LAFAYETTE, INDIANA, MAY 12, 1878. 

4i For we can not but speak that which we have seen and 
heard." — Acts, Chapter iv, verse 20. 

The wonderful efficacy of the gospel temper- 
ance work done in Fort Wayne, Ind., during 
the last two years is admirably illustrated in 
the case of Mason Long. 

This energetic man is well known through- 
out the length and breadth of the Wabash 
Valley as having been, a few years ago, one of 
the most noted gamblers in that region of 
country. 

His life has been a varied one, highly colored 
with romance. It would be difficult to find 
any where a man in whom the element of self- 
hood is more visible. Left in early boyhood 
without a relative or a friend in the world to 
care for him, he was compelled to hew out his 
own road a3 best he could. From the farm to 
the store ; from the store to the army ; from 

♦This chapter is taken from the "Ribbon Workers," edited 
by James M. Hiatt, Esq., and published by J. W. Goodspeed, 
Chicago. 



226 Mason Long : 

the army back to merchandise ; thence to the 
whisky saloon and the gambling hell, and from 
there to the glorious field of moral reform, in 
which he has proven himself one of the most 
successful workers — all the way along this 
changeful line there is manifest a Divine 
guardianship at every step and in every move- 
ment. 

Mr. Long is prominent in the Blue Ribbon 
Association in Fort Wayne, Indiana — an organ- 
ization which comprises a membership of over 
ten thousand at present. 

The following speech, delivered by him in 
the Opera House at Lafayette, before an im- 
mense audience, on the evening of May 12, 
1878, is here presented as his own account of 
his career : 

" Ladies and Gentlemen : I come not as 
a speech-maker — only as one who has a sad 
story to tell of a once wrecked, but now re- 
deemed life. I do not tell this that I am proud 
of it. I want to show you where I stood a 
few short months ago ; what I am doing to- 
night, and my hopes for the future. 

" A portion of this experience I love to 
repeat. A portion of it is very dear to me. 
Let the remainder be humiliating as it may, I 
will repeat it, thinking I may arrest some one 
on a mad and downward career. When I think 






Converted Crambler. 227 

of my past life, it don't seem to me that it is 
altogether my fault. I never had the oppor- 
tunity of becoming a good man, as many of you 
have had. At the age of six, my father died, 
and at the age of ten I was called to the bed- 
side of my dying mother. There, with my 
right hand placed upon her cold forehead, I 
promised her that I would be a good man, and 
that I would meet her in Heaven. Oh, how 
many years have passed that I have neglected 
that promise ! How many years have passed 
since I saw that cold, pale face, and those 
quivering lips uttering that prayer — the prayer 
with which she breathed out her precious life 
— the last words of which were : 6 God have 
mercy on my boy ! ' 

" Then I was alone with my sacred dead, 
and with nothing but a wide and wicked world 
like this before me, without even a sister's 
love. After my mother's death I became a 
farmer's boy, in which capacity seven years of 
my life were spent, as a white slave. 

" I had no schooling, and no friends. After 
leaving the farm I became a soldier ; then a 
merchant; then a drunken gambler; then — 
last and worst of all- — a saloon-keeper. 

" In 1862, I enlisted in the army of the 
United States. My command was ordered to 
Lexington, Kentucky. There I saw my first 
deck of cards, and, as many soldiers did, I soon 

10* 



228 Mason Long: 

learned to play. And, to show you that I was 
an apt scholar, in less than three years from 
the time I learned to play I won eleven thou- 
sand dollars. We had many hardships during 
the three years' service. I was in thirteen 
general engagements and sixty skirmishes, and 
never got a scratch. At the second day's fight 
at Nashville my brother was killed ; and the 
only satisfaction I have is to know that he died 
a brave, sober man. 

" At the close of the war I came to Fort 
Wayne, Indiana, and engaged in the grocery 
and provision business, in which I did very 
well until my health began to fail me. Then, 
through a physician's prescription, I took my 
first drink of whisky. It was given as a tonic. 
And, to show you that I was an apt scholar, 
again, in three weeks' time I cduld drink it out 
of a jug; and in five years from that time I 
was a poor, reeling drunkard on the streets of 
Fort Wayne, without a dollar in the world. 
After that I rallied and opened a gambling 
room, in which thousands of dollars would 
change hands every month. Financially, I did 
very well with the gambling room ; but, not 
being satisfied, I opened a saloon in connec- 
tion with it. I made a very fine place. I cov- 
ered the floor with Brussels carpet, provided 
the finest of billiard tables, with a bar and a 
side-board that cost me five hundred dollars. 



Converted Gambler. 229 

My pool tables were on the second floor. The 
club room was in the rear. This house, in this 
condition, netted me $8,000 in one year, and at 
the end of the same year I had squandered the 
whole of that amount and was fifteen thousand 
dollars in debt — all through drink and reck- 
lessness. 

" I have been a great lover of fast horses in 
my time. In the spring of the year I would 
follow the trotters all over this country. I 
have been very unlucky as a horse-shark. 
I am satisfied that horse racing has cost me 
$10,000. Since the war I have seen all the 
principal races of this country. I saw Gold- 
smith Maid make her best time. I saw the 
great race at Cleveland, Ohio, in which the 
famous trotting stallion, Smuggler, beat the 
Maid. I went, the same summer to Saratoga, 
and saw the great steeple-chase race, in which 
Osage, the famous American runner, fell and 
broke his neck. They claim that half a million 
of dollars changed hands in that race. On 
those trips many funny incidents occurred. 
I started, once, to Jackson, Michigan, to attend 
the races, and got broke and left my baggage 
for board at the hotel. I started out to go 
through the entire circuit of the season's races, 
and I was ashamed to go home the first week. 
So, I got me a ninety-cent valise and took the 
horse train for East Saginaw, Michigan. On 



280 Mason Long: 

arriving I had no money with which to pay bus 
fare ; so, I took it a foot to a hotel. On the 
way I was caught in a shower. When I got to 
the hotel, having, as I supposed a respectable 
showing of baggage, I started at once for the 
register. As I neared the office counter the 
landlord threw up both hands and exclaimed, 
4 I'm full ! ' I saw that he had his eyes on my 
valise. I looked at it, and to my surprise I 
saw that it was a pasteboard affair, and that 
the rain in which I had been caught, had 
melted one side of it down. All I had in it 
was a pair of ' stand-up' socks which I had 
worn the week before, and which, on my enter- 
ing the hotel office, had dropped out on the 
floor. I did not blame the hotel man for saying 
he was full. I took in the situation at a 
glance, and dropping my baggage, I told him 
that I was full too, and left the house. From 
East Saginaw I went to Detroit; then to 
Cleveland, O.; then to Buffalo and to Roch- 
ester, N.Y. Going from the last named city to 
Utica, N.Y., I was on a spree and was too tired 
to get off the train. So, I was carried on to 
Albany, N.Y. Here the gong for breakfast 
awoke me. I found one of my shoes in one 
car, the other in another car, and an empty 
whisky bottle in each shoe. I felt in my 
pockets and found that I had no money. On 
these sprees I would forget to eat for days and 



Converted Gambler. 231 

days. That was the case on this one. I was 
very hungry. So, I drifted into the large 
dining-room and took a seat by the side of an 
old Yankee. He asked me where 1 was from. 
I told him I was from the west. 

" c What are you doing down here ? ' he 
asked. 

" ' I am following the trotters around,' I 
replied. 

" ' Well, my boy, let me give you a piece of 
advice. Look well to your money. This 
country is flooded with thieves and pick- 
pockets ; and the first thing you know you 
won't have a cent.' 

" ; Let them come,' I answered, ' they will 
make a water-haul on me, for I hain't got a 
cent.' 

" By this time I had finished my breakfast. 
Now, the great question was, how I should get 
out. I went to the desk, picked up a tooth- 
pick, and started out at the door. A big 
fellow tapped me on the shoulder and said, 6 A 
dollar, please.' I turned and pointed to the 
old gent with whom I had conversed at the 
table, and said, ' Father, over there, will settle.' 
I have often wondered, since, how ' dad ' got 
out, but I didn't stay to see, at that time, I 
assure you. 

" I went from Albany to Utica. I had a rail- 
road letter that did not belong to me. I would 



232 Mason Long : 

show this to the conductors. It read as 
follows : — 

To Brother Conductors: 

The bearer has been a brakeman on my train for the past 
two years. Any favors shown him will be appreciated by me. 

Yours, etc., 

" This letter would take very well. I never 
had any trouble with it but once. That was 
on the Central road coming from Syracuse. A 
little, peaked nosed, Yankee conductor entered 
the car in which I had taken passage, came up 
to me and asked me for my fare in that sharp, 
half-feminine voice so common to a certain 
class of down-easters. I showed him my letter 
and asked him if he would recognize it. He 
took it, looked it over critically and said, ' I 
can't carry you on that letter.' 4 What ? ' said 
I. ' I can't carry you,' he answered. c Well,' 
I said, ' I have been a slave to the railroads all 
my life, and now, here, many miles from home, 
and it dark and raining, I suppose I will have 
to get off and walk.' This touched the tender 
spot in that razor-faced Yankee. He looked 
me in the eye for a moment and then told me 
to go and sit down. 

" This trip brought me to Buffalo, from which 
city I went to back to Cleveland. In the latter 
place I staid three weeks and did nothing all 
that while but drink whisky. I was under the 
influence of liquor every hour that I was there. 



Converted Gambler. 233 

" The last two days of my sojourn in that 
city, and the day following my departure were 
among the most remarkable in my drinking 
career. I had steeped my brain in whisky till its 
powers of natural action was, for the time 
destroyed — till it was cooked into that distem- 
pered condition which plunges its possessor into 
the hell of delirium tremens. Sensations such 
as I had never had the slightest conception of 
before came over me like a fearful storm-cloud 
and threw my whole nervous system into horri- 
ble discord, and my mind, what little I had, into 
insanity. 

" All at once, by some sort of magic, I was 
converted from a poor, broken gambler into a 
wealthy dealer in live stock. I owned an 
immense herd of cattle, which for two daj^s I 
vainly tried to sell. Never did any thing stick 
to a man like that drove of steers stuck to me. 
On the streets, at table, in the saloons I entered, 
in the sleeping apartments in which I found 
no rest — every where they crowded around 
me and tormented my soul beyond measure by 
their ceaseless lowing, bellowing, and fighting. 
I spent forty-eight hours trying to sell them. 
But Cleveland had no market for my elfish 
Texan long-horns. They became so unruly that 
I determined to leave them, seeing they would 
not leave me. I took the cars for home. They 
followed me, and on fantastic, bovine wings 



234 Mason Long: 

kept pace with one of the fastest lightning 
express trains that ever turned a wheel. Every 
time a car-window was raised, the head of a 
wild steer was thrust through it, poking his 
bayonet pointed horns right at me. When I got 
home I thought I would leave the train as quietly 
as possible, thinking they would go on down the 
Wabash. I had not got three squares from the 
Fort Wayne depot when I looked back, and 
behold ! the whole drove was concentrated into 
one big ox, and he had a horn ten feet long, and 
was coming full tilt right at me. I was five 
days getting out of the way of that horn. 

" I would say that if any farmer in this county 
could have seen that steer, looking as healthy 
as he did to me, he would never try to raise 
another short-horn. 

" Now, boys, I give you this bit of experience, 
not for the fun there is in it, but to warn you 
against the path in which I have trod. 

" I want to compare my feelings of to-night 
with those of the awful night on which I left 
Cleveland, Ohio. No artist in the world can 
paint a picture half so horrible as that drove of 
cattle was to me. On the other hand, no knight 
of the brush can paint a picture half so beauti- 
ful as the one which now thrills my soul. 
Everything in which I knew there vy&s sin I 
have given up. I am perfectly happy. My 
present life is to me, like an enchanting dream. 



Converted Gambler, 236 

The change of associations and the enrapturing 
change of heart make everything bright, and 
fill me with the bliss of heaven itself at this 
moment. 

" But, then, I have dark days. O, I have hours 
so full of the gloom of regret ! — hours in which 
I see rising before me the images of my fallen 
victims. And 'who are they,' do you ask? 
Why, the men whom in former years I sent 
reeling from my saloon out into the black mid- 
night, and who were locked in the horrible 
embrace of a drunkard's death before they 
reached their homes. Often, O, too often ! have 
I heard the bell toll for these poor creatures. 
Then would come the hearse and one or two 
conveyances, with the widow and her little 
ones, clothed in faded dresses. Wicked as I 
was, in those days, my conscience never failed 
to smite me at the sight of such scenes of the 
woe which I was causing. More than once, on 
occasions of this sort, sick with the contempla- 
tion of the fearful fruits of my trade, I have 
turned from the front door of my richly 
furnished slaughter-pen, and, retiring within its 
fatal walls, have met the heartless consolation, 
fc Why need you care for that old drunkard ? 
You had a right to kill him. You have got your 
license on the wall. The law of the State of 
Indiana protects you. ' Think of the degraded 
being who could thus pander to one whose 



236 Mason Long: 

business was sweeping that being into the same 
vortex which had engulfed the ' old drunkard ' 
whom he assumed to regard with such contempt. 

" The law of Indiana did protect me, and it 
still protects every liquor-seller. But when we 
shall appear before the judgment seat, that law 
will there be stricken out, and every saloon-keeper 
who dies without having repented the crimes of 
his traffic will stand before the Grod of the universe 
a convicted murderer, while the State of Indiana 
will be held particeps criminis. 

" Can 3 r ou blame me for giving every hour 
allotted to me from this day forward to the 
cause of temperance? I feel that there is a 
great deal for me to do to balance the account 
against me in God's book of remembrance. In 
this work I am cheered by His presence and the 
hope of the glorious life which is to come. 

" An artist has presented me with a picture 
showing the past, the present, and the future 
of a reformed drunkard. The past is a scene 
of woe over-hung with the clouds of despair. 
The present shows a bright running stream, 
with its fountain-head springing directly from 
heaven. The future is the sweet land of Eden, 
illumined by the eternal sunshine of the Father 
of mercies. Gazing upon the dark scene, we 
see two little stepping stones that are intended 
to lead the drunkard out to the solid rock in 
the clear, rippling present. Yonder you behold 



Converted Gambler. 237 

the poor inebriate, wrapped from head to foot 
with the serpent of intemperance. Hands beckon 
to him ; strong voices hail him and urge him to 
leave the miry marshes of dissipation and walk 
out on the pillar of salvation. With trembling 
limbs he strides forward, places his feet on the 
sure foundation ; the reptile, scorched by the 
rays of the Sun of Righteousness, falls writhing 
at his feet, and he stands -a free man rejoicing 
in his liberty. 

11 In my case it was a little different. When 
I took my first step forward, while I felt that I 
could not retreat, it seemed impossible for me 
to make any further advance ; for I could not 
get my eyes off the miseries of the past. But 
while I was in this critical condition the good 
people of the old Ark of Safety came to my res- 
cue, and, taking me by the arm, led me to the 
Rock that is higher than I, on which, thank 
God, I am this night firmly planted. 

" O, praise His Holy Name, I am now, 
through no merit of mine, but through the 
alone merits of a crucified but victorious Savior, 
redeemed from the dismal swamp of alcoholic 
damnation, and this moment stand before you 
one of the most amazing examples of the 
Father's goodness on whom the sun ever shone. 

u I am here, thank the Lord, a reformed man, 
not resting in my own freedom, but anxious to 
go with you, temperance people, in the life- 



238 Mason Long: 

boat of the gospel out among the ragged rocks 
of the maddened breakers of the dark ocean of 
debauchery, which is flooding the world, to 
snatch from the jaws of death the helpless vic- 
tims of rum, and having brought them safely 
to the shores of peace, to join you in letting the 
winds kiss the heavens with the news to God 
that we have done His will. 

44 1 can look at the scenes of the past, in the 
picture to which I have alluded, and see Judge 
Hammond's distillery, which many of you will 
remember as cutting a prominent figure in the 
play of 4 Ten Nights in a Bar Room.' I see 
the dark waters of corruption oozing out of that 
establishment and blackening the earth near 
the beautiful stream of the present of the saved 
drunkard, but it can not mingle with the waters 
of this bright river, for they flow directly from 
heaven. I can see the director of that distillery 
(the devil)*perched upon its top, looking down 
at a poor wretch whose gaze is riveted upon 
him. The victim, like a bird charmed by the 
fatal glare of a snake's eyes, can turn his head 
neither to the right nor to the left. The only 
light by which the horrid picture is relieved is 
that of the lighting of God's wrath, which, 
flashing through the dark clouds that envelope 
the whisky mill, presents one of the most appal- 
ling tableaux ever beheld by man. 

44 In this scene I can see hundreds of wrecks 



Converted Gambler. 239 

in my past life. Simon Slade, the once happy 
miller, built a tavern in the village in which 
this distillery was located, and connected a 
bar-room with it. He was one of the few men 
who drift into the liquor traffic innocently. He 
was beloved by the whole community, and all 
the first people of the place patronized him. 
Such men as Hammond would call and see him. 
Hammond's son, Willie, the brightest boy of 
the village, followed in his father's footsteps. 
In less than ten years, Hammond died in the 
alms-house. Willie had control of the estate. 
He became a gambler, and was eventually killed 
by the gambler, Green, in his father's house. 
While his life's blood was oozing from his 
wounds, his broken-hearted mother fell a corpse 
across him. Thus ended the Hammond family. 
Joe Morgan, Slade's former partner, had now 
become a drunkard. He was one of the fight- 
ing kind, and no one could do anything with 
him when he was drunk but his little daughter, 
Mar}\ She would go to the bar-room for him 
night after night. On one occasion, while he 
and Slade were quarrelling, Slade hurled a 
glass at him, and missing him, struck Mary 
just as she was entering the salion door to take 
her father away. She was carried home, and 
on her death bed drew from her father the 
promise that he would never drink again, after 
which she passed sweetly to her rest. Joe 



240 Mason Long\: 

Morgan never took another drop of liquor dur- 
ing his life, and became a wealthy merchant. 
Mrs. Slade, the once happy miller's wife, after 
the death of Mary Morgan, lost her reason, and 
was taken to the mad-house, where she died. 
Slade had become a drunkard, and in a row 
with his own son, was murdered by the latter, 
who knocked out his brains with a whisky 
bottle, in Slade's own bar-room. So ends the 
tragedy of Ten Nights in a Bar-Room. The 
man, Slade, made more drunkards in ten years 
than all the other rum-sellers of his village did 
in forty years. You ask how. I will tell you. 
He was one of those rare specimens who go 
into the whisky traffic with clean reputations, 
and he therefore caught a class of men that the 
ordinary dram-vender can not reach — that noble 
class of generous hearts who are the ones that 
invariably sink down to the lowest stratum of 
debauchery. 

" Now do you know that" Slade's career as a 
retail dealer in liquid damnation was very like 
my own in many particulars. When I opened 
my place on Calhoun street,' in Fort Wayne, 
Ind., I do not know that I had an enemy in 
the world. I bought out a man who was 
taking in only from three to eight dollars a 
day. On the very first night of my proprietor- 
ship, I took in forty dollars, and my trade kept 
increasing till it looked like a county fair 






Converted Gambler. 241 

around the bar, and my customers were all of 
the higher class. When I quit the place, I did 
not have a friend on earth, unless it was some 
poor drunkard, like myself, who had no means 
of support. Thus will any man who drinks 
whisky wind up. 

" Now, then, let us as Christian people do 
our duty. I am ready to go with you back 
araonsf the ruins which mark the course of the 

o 

black-winged destroyer, in search of those who 
are 3-et groping around in the bogs of intem- 
perance. 

"Let me say a word to praying people. Re- 
member your dut} r when you meet a poor 
drunken man on the street. Don't -pass him 
by with an air of scorn. Stop and speak a kind 
word to him. Perchance it mav 20 down into 
his heart, and there finding a resting-place, 
produce a smiling harvest of good in the future. 
If your kindness succeeds, you will, nine times 
in ten, save a noble-hearted man. Never, in 
all my life, have I known a mean, penurious 
man with a pawn-broker's soul, to become .a 
drunkard. It is nearly always the best man 
who gets down the deepest. 

Here I am reminded of the lady who dropped 
her diamond ring in a -mud-hole. Looking 
vainly up and down the street for some one to 
recover that ring for her, she rolled up her 
sleeve, thrust her hand down into the muddy 



242 Mason Long: 

water, and, finding her jewel, rinsed it, held it 
up to the sun and exclaimed, ' It is a diamond 
still ! ' 

" You will find many 6 gems of purest ray 
serene ' at the very bottom of the filthy pool of 
intemperance ; and it is your duty to roll up 
your sleeves and reach down, though you may 
get your hands dirty, and, clutching them in. 
the strong grasp of love, bring them out into 
the sunlight of God. Great will be your re- 
ward if you are found faithful in the discharge 
of this duty. Why, it was only a little Sunday- 
school scholar that God used in saving me. 

" During the Blue Ribbon movement in Fort 
Wayne, I drifted one night into the old rink in 
which the meetings were then being held. 
Soon I was surrounded by a band of the pray- 
ing mothers who were such efficient workers in 
that mighty temperance revival. 

" * We want you to sign the pledge/ said 
they to me. 

" 4 What is the use of my signing it ? ' I an- 
swered ; fc I would have to break it to-morrow.' 

" 4 No you won't ; and we will not let you 
go home till you sign.' 

" Well, I saw there was no chance of getting 
out of the thing. So I made them a promise, 
which I didn't intend to fulfill, that I would 
come back the next night and sign the pledge. 
This did not satisfy them, until a sweet little 



Converted Gambler. 243 

girl, whose face beamed with heavenly light, 
stepped up, and, gently accosting one of the 
ladies, said in dulcet tones that thrilled me 
through and through : 

" 8 Mamma ! let him go home. He is telling 
the truth. He will come and sign to-morrow 
night.' Then raising her angelic eyes till they 
met mine, she said to me : 

" 6 You will, won't you ? ' 

" The aisle was now open, and I went to my 
room and tried to gamble, but I could not. I 
went out and tried to play billiards, but could 
not roll a ball. Wherever I went I could hear 
nothing but those cherubic words, ' You will, 
won't you ? ' All night long they rang like par- 
adisic chimes in my ears. On the following 
morning, at the breakfast table, every dish I 
touched echoed back the inspiring strain, ; You 
will, won't you?' And throughout that most 
memorable of all the days of my life, the air 
was everywhere resonant with the spell-binding 
appeal, 4 You will % won't you?' 

u Those words of the Holy Spirit from the 
honeyed tongue of an earthly seraph were the 
first that ever pierced my calloused heart, and 
roused to a quickening sense of my needs my 
long-slumbering conscience. 

" As the evening shades drew on I could 
scarcely wait for the rink to open. One of 
the dear Lord's messengers had resurrected my 



244 Mason Long? 

dead manhood by an expression of unclouded 
faith in my promise, and, at the cost of my life> 
I would have shown myself worthy of that 
faith. 

" When the hour came, I was the first man 
to walk down the aisle of the old skating tem- 
ple and sign the pledge, which, I am glad to 
say, I have honored up to the present moment, 
and, God helping me, I will never break it, 

" The power, for good, of kindness and of 
confidence in humanity can never be measured. 
On the other hand, the chilling effects of disre- 
gard and of cold neglect can never be known 
this side of eternity. 

"I once knew a man of great wealth and 
respectability — one who possessed the noblest 
qualities as a neighbor, and whom everybody 
who knew him respected. He had a down-fall 
in business, and, to drown his sorrow, took to 
drinking. Soon it was noised around that he 
was in the habit of getting drunk; and finally, 
when he was seen reeling on the streets, his 
creditors closed in on him, and he was left pen- 
niless and friendless — none seeming to desire 
to be known as having any thing to do with 
him. In two years from that time he was a 
gutter drunkard. 

"■" The famous little horse, Red Cloud, started 
out a few years ago and won every race that 
was in his class for several seasons. His repu- 



nterted Gambler. 245 

tation became such that his owner was offered 
a very large sum of money for him on condition 
of his beating his former record. On the day 
appointed for the trial, he started, and went to 
the three-quarter pole a second sooner than he 
had ever done it before ; he was swinging into 
the stretch, and was coming home like a bird 
cutting the wind, when, all at once, he stepped 
on a little pebble, went lame, and failed. From 
that very moment he was not worth within 
eighty per cent, of his former value. But since 
that time his owner has had him at numerous 
horse fairs, at every one of which he has drawn 
large crowds of people who, though they knew 
he was spoiled as a racer, were anxious to see 
and honor him for the laurels he had won. 

" But all the good the poor man, of whom 
I told you a minute ago, had done, was forgot- 
ten so soon as it was known that discourage- 
ment had driven him to dissipation. Strang, 
is it not, that we can not treat our fellow] — 
and the noblest souled of them at that — as well 

we do dumb brute- 

**I will now compare myself to a horse. Therr 
used to be an old gray in Ohio that i _ :od 

one, but he was badly handled. He broke his 
owner up, and was more in debt to the National 
Association than any other horse I ever kr^ 
His master used to have to pay #4,000 before 
he could start him in a race. Finallv, he was. 



246 Mason Long .* 

taken off the track and put in the barn. But 
last spring, a neighbor of his owner went and 
told that owner that if he would give him a ten 
years' lease on old gray, he would pay the back 
entrance money. The offer was accepted. In 
a short time the horse, in the hands of his new 
proprietor, went into the race at Pittsburgh and 
won the second money. Remember, the horse 
had a change of handling. He went next to 
Grand Rapids and took a heat, and would have 
won the race had it not been for the jockeying; 
but he took the second money again. Next he 
went to Detroit, and won the race, his lessee 
taking out of the pool box $1,850. 

" In 1865, I had plenty of money, and was 
doing a paying business. It was 4 Mr. Long,' 
then. After a while I became a drunkard and 
gambler. Then they called me ' Mase.' I 
soon lost all my money, and then my friends 
left me. I rallied, did well again, and found 
men who would indorse me for -$1,000 at a time. 
But I could not stand prosperity. I soon got 
to reeling again. Then everybody dropped me 
as though I had been a hot potato. I finally 
got in debt $1,500, and waited two years for 
some neighbor to take me out of the barn and 
put me on the turf again, but he never came. 
But when that darling child of Heaven took 
that twenty-four hour lease upon my honor, I 
began, under my improved handling, to realize 



Converted Gambler. 247 

my manhood once more. That night I matched 
the old gray horse when he was at Pittsburgh. 
The next night, when I signed the pledge, I 
tied him when he was at Grand Rapids, and 
the night I gave my heart to God I won a race 
that no horse can win. All the money you 
have in Lafayette would not buy it, yet it cost 
me but the asking. 

"A great many people say they don't want 
to sign the pledge ; that nobody but drunkards 
and children join our church. I know better. 
Since my reformation I have received letters 
from several of our best statesmen, who highly 
praise the great Ribbon movements, and some 
of these men are personally identified with 
these movements. On the other hand, I have 
never received a line or heard a word from any 
man of eminence backing up the liquor traffic, 
or recommending the use of liquor. Even Bob 
Ingersoll sa}'s that i whisky demoralizes the man 
who makes it, corrupts the man who sells it, 
and sends a speedy damnation to the man who 
drinks it.' 

" And ye who speak contemptuously of chil- 
dren joining this movement, have ye ever tried 
to measure the power for good exerted in this 
world by little ones ? What have I just told 
you about my own conversion ? And am I the 
only full-grown man whose heart has been 
stormed and captured by the love and confi- 



248 Mason Long: 

dence of a child ? By no means. The world's 
record of redeemed men^if it could be seen, 
would show tens of thousands who have been 
raised from the dead just as I was. God bless 
the children ! Suffer them to come to the 
pledge table, and hinder them not; for of such 
is the Kingdom of Heaven. They may do good, 
yea, they are doing good, often when you least 
expect it. I would rejoice to have every child 
in Lafayette join me in this grand work to- 
night. 

" Now I have a word for the men who drink 
and gamble. I have been with you all through 
life. I have soldiered with you ; I have drank 
with you ; I have gambled with you. But with 
you in the path of sin and death, I can no 
longer travel. I love you as men, but no 
longer do I love your ways. I am here to-night 
to reason with you, and to show you the light 
that I have found. Don't you remember how, 
in 1861 and 1862, you tore yourselves away 
from everything that was dear to you in this 
world? Don't you remember how you left 
your feeble fathers, your praying mothers, your 
weeping sisters, your heart-broken wives and 
children who vainly clung to your necks to 
hold you back, and rushed to the nearest rally- 
ing point to place your names on the grand roll 
of the country's defenders ? You said, i I must 
go. My honor is at stake ; my government is 



Converted Gambler. 249 

in danger.' You marched on and on till you 
stood a living target before the enemy. Why 
did you make this great sacrifice ? To save 
your nation and vindicate your nation's flag. 
Now, we are here to enlist you again, and in a 
cause that lies as near the hearts of all good 
people, and involves to as great an extent the 
highest interests of the country, as the matters 
which were in issue in the memorable year of 
1861 — a cause in which you and your's are di- 
rectly concerned. Your dear ones at home will 
be filled with joy unspeakable to hear that you 
are going with us in this grand army, battling 
for the right. Do you remember 1865 ? — when 
you came home from the war ? You were then 
America's bright and shining stars. Look at 
yourselves to-night ! Are you what you then 
were ? If you are not, you can lay your fall to 
that thief of the world that has stolen our land 
and ruined so many of our brave boys. I am 
here as a recruiting officer. It will cost you 
nothing to go with us. We do not subject you 
to an examination, but take you just as you are. 
You will not see the examining surgeon till the 
war is over; and O, how I do pray that you, 
boys, as well as myself, may be ready to meet 
Him when you are mustered out of this service. 
" I know I have much to do to keep myself 
straight, and I am trying so hard to do it. But 
thank God, I have a Mighty Helper. But I 



250 Mason Long: 

should not have that Helper if I had not turned 
and taken the first steps toward Him. How 
well I remember the night of the sixth of 
August, 1877, when, the Christian ladies of 
Fort Wayne pointed out to me the tem- 
perance star, and that little angel of Jesus 
fixed my gaze upon it. Can I ever forget how 
those golden words, ' You will, won't youf 
awoke in my heart the long silent voice of my 
mother, and how her last words, c Grod have 
mercy on my boy ! ■ chimed in with those of the 
sweet messenger at my side. 

" I followed that temperance star till it 
merged itself into the Star of Bethlehem. I'll 
tell you how it was, boys. 

"In a few weeks after I signed the pledge I 
wandered one Sunday into Dr. Stone's church, 
in Fort Wayne, and listened to a sermon every 
word of which exactly fitted me. Then the 
choir sang 'What shall the harvest be?' and I 
wondered what my harvest would be from the 
seeds that I had sowed. As I was leaving the 
church the same little girl who revived my 
lifeless conscience with her transfixing 4 You 
will, won't you V came to me with a book. It 
was the Bible. Handing it to me. she said, * I 
have marked a lesson there for you. Will you 
study it ? ' Of course I answered, 4 Yes.' 
Could I answer anything else. I went to my 
room with that book. I soon found my marked 



Converted Gambler, 251 

passage. It read, ^For we must all appear 
before the judgment seat of Christ, that every 
one may receive the things done in the body, 
according to that he hath done, 5 etc. I could 
read no further. My whole case lay in that 
verse. I wondered what good I ever had done. 
I tried to strike a balance sheet, and I found 
that all the good I had ever done wouldn't 
balance one day's sin. I wondered in what 
condition I should appear before the judgment 
seat of Christ. I then took spiritual counsel 
of Dr. Stone, Dr. Moffitt, and others. I told 
them I was guilty^ and that I knew of nothing 
better than to lay my case before the Great 
Judge, and trust to His decision. My coun- 
selors indorsed my views and told me go ahead. 
"I presented my case to God, and in the 
silent hours of the night, awaited alone in my 
room the result. My soul was miserable in the 
contemplation of the wickedness of the past. 
I had not slept for several nights. I went 
down on my knees and asked God to give me 
just one hour's sleep. But no rest came to my 
weary eyes. I rose and turned on my gas, 
whose light revealed to me the sight of my 
gambling tables and my splendid side-board, the 
latter still supplied with the finest liquors. 
Instantly I asked myself, ' Why should God 
bless me in such a place as this? ' Remember, 
of all my habits, gambling was the dearest. I 



252 Mason Long: 

loved to gamble, as I loved to eat when very 
hungry. So much was I enamored of it that I 
had not thought of giving it up as I had given 
up the use and sale of whisky. My demijohns 
and bottles were corked and stowed away in 
my side-board, but my gambling tables were 
still in use. I thought I could be a temperance 
man and a gambler at the same time. Yes, 
strange as it may seem to many, I even thought 
I could be a Christian and a gambler. My 
passion for games of chance wholly blinded me 
to their evils. But when I rose from my knees 
that night, a new light lit up the one still dark- 
ened chamber of my conscience, and I saw my 
great mistake. Right then and there I made a 
full surrender. I walked to the door and bade 
my gambling room an eternal adieu. I went to 
a hotel and retired to bed, bedewing my pillow 
with hot, scalding tears. Completely exhausted, 
I soon fell asleep. When I awoke the next 
morning my heart was as light as a feather, and 
as full of joy as it could be. God, O, hallowed 
be His name ! had changed it in the stilly hours 
of slumber. I arose and hurried down street 
to tell the good news. My heart was clean; 
my soul was happy, and I wanted to tell it 
to the world. I am here to-night to tell it to 
you, gambling and drinking boys, and to lead 
you, if possible, by way of the temperance 



Converted Gambler. 253 

pledge, to the same solid rock on which I stand 
and. rejoice in the glory of God. 

"But, boys, I would have you know that I 
have my dark hours — hours in which I am 
tempted and sorely tried. The monster which, 
by God's help, I overcame on the night of the 
sixth of August, 1877, trails me wherever I go. 
He is here to-night, ready to spring upon me if 
I would give him the opportunity. But he 
shall never again fasten his fangs upon me. I 
don't fear him now, for God is my friend, my 
unfailing support. 

" For twenty-five years I wandered through 
this world with no guide but my dying mother's 
prayers ; and during many of those years that 
guide was neglected, forgotten. But I want 
to promise you now, as I do her, that, God 
helping me, I will never forget her prayers 
again. 

" And here I will say to her, have patience, 
dear mother, when my work on earth is done, I 
will stand with you at the right hand of God ! 

" A lay He bless you all. Good-night ! Good- 
night! " 

The speech given above should be read by 
everybody. To unreformed men it is a power- 
ful exhortation. To reformed men, it is an 
almost unexampled piece of inspiration. To 
staid Christians and religious teachers it is wor- 
thy of all study as an exposition of practical 



254 Mason Long : 

theology and of the true method of labor among 
those whom Jesus boldly declared He came to 
save. To all that class of moral people who 
adopt the miserable policy of freezing sinful 
souls into repentance ; of driving men away 
from their errors by turning to them the cold 
shoulder, Mr. Long's recital of the influence 
that led him to sign the pledge of total absti- 
nence, will prove eminently instructive. The 
sweet confidence and the unselfish love of that 
little girl, whose magic appeal, " You will, 
won't you ? " literally turned the poor, inebri- 
ate gambler's darkness into day, accomplished 
what all the advice and all the lecturing he 
ever received had utterly failed to accomplish. 
Those divine words were flashes of light from 
the Eternal Throne. From the great heart of 
God Himself, passing through the pure, confid- 
ing heart of an innocent child, they quickened 
the dead affections of that hardened man, 
opened his eyes to his wretched condition, and 
breathed a saving vitality into his long-asphyx- 
iated conscience. Those four potent monosyl- 
lables were worth more to his gloomy spirit 
than all the set discourses to which he had ever 
listened. 

Praise the Lord for the tender darlings who 
— amid the stifling smoke of the soulless logo- 
machies, in which the ambitious pulpits of the 
nineteenth century are butchering Christianity, 



Converted Q-ambler. 255 

driving the humble away from the church, aud 
putting the Savior to an open shame before the 
skeptical world — raise their tiny fingers and, 
under that divine inspiration which has always 
preferred sympathy to talent, love to learning, 
point directly and so charmingly to the all- 
atoning Lamb, who, while with man, held them 
up as the earthly type of His Father's dwelling 
place. 

All other important facts are so fully given 
in his speech that I refer the reader to that for 
them, and proceed to close this chapter with a 
description of him as a speaker and with soma 
account of his temperance labors. 

Mason Long is a very earnest but never a 
very loud talker. He rarely rises above his 
monotone, which is remarkably musical, pa- 
thetic, and impressive. To few orators will an 
audience lend a more eager attention. His 
touch is exceedingly delicate, and his appeals 
are unusually tender, wonderfully effective. 
When he closes a speech with that prayer to 
his mother, with which the preceding speech 
concludes, there can be seen scarcely one dry 
eye in the audience. In expression he is ready 
and fluent. In manner he is graceful and dig- 
nified. His diction is rich and florid. His 
rhetoric, though open to criticism, is faultless 
to the masses, whom he invariably charms. To 
do the work among unreformed drunkards and 



256 Mason Long: 

gamblers, there is not, perhaps, a more effective 
speaker in the country, while at the same time, 
the most refined love to hear him. He is clear- 
er of provincialisms and slang phrases than the 
great majority of the reformed men who are 
now on the platform. This commends him in 
an especial manner to those people who are 
highly sensitive in regard to the use of such 
expressions. 

Since his reformation he has been keeping a 
model temperance coffee house in Fort Wayne, 
Ind., but has, nevertheless, been almost con- 
stantly in the field as a Blue Ribbon evangelist, 
and has done a vast deal of good in Northern 
Indiana, and throughout a considerable portion 
of Ohio. He has induced thousands to sign 
the pledge, and has been the means of reform- 
ing hundreds of gamblers. His integrity, hu- 
mility, and deep sincerity, added to his energy 
and his fine natural abilities, render him a 
mighty power for good in the land. 

And when they shall come from the east and 
the west, and from the north and the south, and 
shall sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, 
Mason Long will sit down with the rest of 
them. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




014 239 824 2 



■P 






Mi 






1 



Si 



